Investigation launched into medical experiment irregularities at Heiloo psych clinic

The Public Prosecutor launched an investigation into medical experiments performed by GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord at a psychiatric clinic in Heiloo. The Healthcare Inspectorate believes that these experiments were not done according to the rules, NOS reports. This involves experiments with treatment of schizophrenia patents at the clinic using a combination of an anti-psychotic and another drug. A whistleblower within the institution drew attention to the experiments in a broadcast of Zembla in April last year. According to the whistleblower, some of the patients involved were not capable of giving informed consent. The experiments were also done on patients admitted to the clinic, while according to the rules only subjects who live independently outside the clinic were allowed to participate. 22 of the 52 patients did not meet the criteria, according to the whistleblower. The Inspectorate also found that some of the patients weren't even aware that they were participating in a medical experiment. The GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord dropped the ball in not providing better information beforehand, according to the inspectorate.