Today [July 26] in Sweden:

Vi behöver fler kliniska prövningar inom svensk vård.

[machine translation]

We Need More Clinical Trials In Swedish Healthcare

In order for Sweden to remain a leading country when it comes to innovation and medical research, it is important to increase the number of clinical trials. The government is now launching an investigation into how more patients can be given the opportunity to participate in such trials, including groups that have previously found it difficult to give consent due to their medical condition, writes Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD), Minister for Health.

Sweden has a long history of medical research and innovation and is ranked as one of the world's top innovation countries. Despite this, the number of clinical trials has declined in recent years. The government is now taking a further step to increase the number of clinical trials in Sweden. An investigator will now review the issue and, within that framework, the possibility for people with reduced decision–making capacity to participate in clinical trials.

Clinical trials are conducted on new medicines and medical devices to determine whether they are safe and effective. Fewer clinical trials affect the potential for new medical breakthroughs in Sweden and limit Swedish patients' access to early, innovative and sometimes life–saving treatments.

The government aims to increase the number of clinical trials. Clinical trials are crucial for new medical breakthroughs and also enable Swedish patients to get early access to new and innovative treatments. More patients should have the opportunity to participate in one. For people with reduced decision–making capacity, participation can be difficult or impossible because it requires the consent of the patient, guardian or trustee. This may be the case, for example, for people with dementia or other illnesses that affect cognitive ability. Even people who suddenly lose full mental capacity may find it difficult to participate in a clinical trial. For example, a person who has suffered a cardiac arrest may not be able to give consent for treatment with a new drug in a research study, even if doctors believe that this particular drug can save him or her, they are then tied to other treatment options.

The inquiry should therefore make proposals on who should have the power to give informed consent to participate in a clinical trial for a person who is permanently or temporarily incapacitated. In addition, the inquiry should make proposals on who should be able to give informed consent for a person temporarily lacking decision–making capacity in the case of other clinical research. In the latter case, other conditions may also need to be set for conducting such trials with persons temporarily lacking decision–making capacity. In this context, there are of course important considerations that need to be made in relation to the rights and freedoms of those concerned. All trials must also continue to be reviewed by the Ethical Review Authority before they can be approved.

A previous report on access to vaccines against COVID-19 (SOU 2022:3) pointed to the need to be able to conduct larger and more effective studies in areas such as vaccines. Examples of such studies are cluster-randomized clinical trials, a type of study in which entire groups, rather than individuals, are randomly assigned to different groups. Each group is then assigned a specific treatment or intervention to be evaluated. The groups, or 'clusters', can be hospitals, health centres, wards or other organizational units. The inquiry will therefore consider whether these cluster–randomized trials should be allowed in Sweden and, if so, what legal, scientific and ethical aspects may arise if such studies are allowed in Sweden.

The Government has met regularly with representatives of both industry and the regions to discuss the common goal of increasing the number of clinical trials in Sweden. We have now continued to work on several of the issues raised. The Government is keen to simplify processes and regulations so that companies choose to locate their clinical trials in Sweden. In the face of strong international competition, Sweden must offer attractive conditions for research and innovation. This is a prerequisite for strengthening our common prosperity and for patients to have access to the most effective treatments.

Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD), Minister for Health

Source:  GöteborgsPosten      ZzzZzzZzz…

KD:  Christian Democrats

Today [July 17] in Sweden:

Två veckor med nya lagen: Så många tjänstemän har förolämpats.

[machine translation]

Two Weeks Of the New Law: This Many Officials Have Been Insulted

Two weeks have passed since the new law on 'insulting a public official' came into force. Since its introduction on July 2, police in the Western Region have received 24 reports of criminal language against public officials. And one professional group stands out among the reports.
– 21 of the reports concern police officers, says Tamara Gonzales Fuentes, police spokesperson.

On July 2, new legislation came into force making it illegal to insult public officials.

What has become illegal is to "direct accusations, derogatory statements or humiliating behavior" against, for example, police officers in the course of their work, provided that "the act is likely to offend the official's self–esteem or dignity".

The controversial law aims to strengthen the protection of public servants, but it has also been criticized for restricting freedom of expression.

Exactly how the law will be applied and who will be convicted is still unclear. But the police do have a figure for how many people have been reported for the new crime in the first few weeks.

"Too Early To Say"

GP has asked the authority to compile how many reports of the new crime classification have been made in western Sweden in the first two weeks, and the result is almost two reports a day.

– "From July 2 until today, we have received 24 reports in the Western Police Region, including the crime of insulting a public official," says Tamara Gonzalez Fuentes, Police Spokesperson.

According to Tamara Gonzalez, it is still too early to say whether this should be seen as a lot or a little in relation to other criminal classifications.

– "Right now it's a bit too early to say whether it's a lot or a little, and I myself can't draw any concrete comparisons without it becoming speculative," she says.

"Gendered Words, Swearing And Other Things"

When it comes to the question of which occupational groups are most exposed to insults that are considered potentially criminal, however, the trend in the first few weeks is clear.

– "Two of the complaints are against government employees, one against a municipal employee and 21 against police officers," says Tamara Gonzales Fuentes.

Having read through these complaints, can you say anything about the type of insults they have received?

– "These are insults in various terms and degrees, where individuals have intended to offend officials. I can't go into the exact terms, but there are both gender words, swear words and other things that are intended to offend, she says.

Investigated As Other Crimes

How many of the reports will result in convictions is still an open question, as there is no case law and no cases have been brought to court.

It is therefore difficult for Tamara Gonzales to say when the picture will become clearer as to exactly which statements now constitute a crime.

– The crime of insulting a public official is no different from the investigation of other crimes, but is investigated by local police districts. "So exactly how long it can take differs a little from case to case, also because in some cases there are reports of only insulting a public official, while in other cases it has been committed in connection with other offenses," she says.

Source:  GöteborgsPosten      ZzzZzzZzz…