ADVISER HAD NO CONFLICT, COLLEGE SAYS

Health Canada knew of links to drug firm

OTTAWA - Health Canada knew about an expert adviser's ties to a drug company
whose product she was reviewing and decided she had no conflict of interest,
the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons says.

Dr. RE9jeanne Gougeon told the federal government she had been a consultant
for Monsanto Canada before she was appointed to an expert advisory committee
reviewing a drug the company makes, said Dr. Henry Dinsdale, executive
director of the college.

Health Canada asked the college to form an objective, impartial committee to
review all the data Monsanto provided the government on BST, or bovine
somatotropin, a controversial veterinary drug.

The committee is charged with rendering an opinion on whether Health Canada
drew the correct conclusions on whether the drug will harm people who drink
the milk or eat the beef of treated cows.

Gougeon co-wrote an article in 1994 that recommended the government approve
the drug.

She disclosed her consultancy with Monsanto on the conflict-of-interest
forms the government requires, Dinsdale said.

The form requires all committee members to disclose whether they believe
they have a real, apparent or perceived conflict of interest.

NDP Leader Alexa McDonough called on Health Minister Allan Rock Tuesday to
remove Gougeon from the committee.

``I don't think there's any question that if the person doesn't see (for)
herself the obvious reasons for resigning, that the government ought to
ensure that she's removed,'' McDonough said.

Health Canada officials checked the conflict forms, Dinsdale said in an
interview from Toronto.

``It is our understanding that they found the forms in order and agreed with
the fact that members of the panel were comfortable in signing it and saying
they did not have a conflict of interest.''

But a Health Canada spokesperson said Monday it's up to the Royal College,
not the government, to act on information provided on the disclosure forms.

CRITICS DISAGREE

``It is an arm's-length situation. It's the panel themselves that need to
ensure they have the right people to carry out the job,'' said Pierre
SauvE9.

He said the Royal College of Physicians has the authority to ensure that all
the people on the panel ``can discharge their responsibilities in an
impartial manner.''

That was not the college's job, said Dinsdale.

But after reviewing the forms again, the college does not think Gougeon has
a conflict, he said.

Critics of the government's drug regulation process disagree.

``The bottom line is that the whole process is a charade because at the end
of the day, nobody is checking for conflict of interest,'' said Dr.
MichE8le Brill Edwards.

Brill Edwards was a senior drug reviewer who quit over what she says were
concerns about the long-term safety of drugs being approved.

Checked-by: Don Beck