Research Needs to Be Done Ethically and Collaboratively

To the editor:
   As chief executive officer of the community mental health agency in San Antonio (the Center for Health Care Services), I read with great interest your article about recruitment of subjects from the homeless center in Austin to participate in clinical drug trials for schizophrenia ["Diagnosed With Greed," News, Nov. 24]. We have had problems with our clients going to Austin to participate in drug trials and returning to San Antonio in a deteriorated clinical state.
   We have developed excellent working relationships with researchers at the medical school in San Antonio, who regularly consult with us about the advisability of clients participating in studies and who work with us to ensure that research subjects receive the best possible care during and after enrollment in research studies. We believe that research on new treatments for schizophrenia is essential. Based on our experience with local researchers, we know that the research can be done ethically and collaboratively.