Legislative Auditor Faults U of M Research Reporting

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota's legislative auditor says the University of Minnesota should report patients' medical issues during clinical trials faster.

The report released Thursday examined the school's last decade of industry-sponsored studies. It found some researchers took months to report patient hospitalizations and in some cases submitted little information on adverse events during the trials.

It's just the latest look at issues in the university's research practices. An audit released earlier this year found serious ethical lapses surrounding the 2004 suicide of man enrolled in an anti-psychotic drug study.

The Office of the Legislative Auditors' newest report says the school could boost patient safety by requiring quicker reports of serious health issues.

The university says a new research ethics plan adopted this month will help collect more information on patient issues faster.