ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS IN CHILDREN

That this House welcomes the publication of 'Surveillance for fatal suspected adverse drug reaction in the United Kingdom' by A. Clarkson and I. Choonara which aimed to determine the nature and number of suspected adverse drug reactions associated with children reported through the yellow card scheme; is concerned that there were 331 deaths with 390 suspected medicines; notes that overall the benefits of all the drugs listed are likely to be far greater than risks; but hopes most earnestly that paediatricians will learn from the prime message of the paper that they should make themselves aware of guidelines which recommend avoiding certain medication in high risk groups; and further calls on the Medical Controls Agency to recognise, as the report states in its opening sentence, that the toxicity of medicines in children is clearly different from that in adults by introducing new and specific testing procedures for medicines prescribed to children.