Drug Trial Compensation Payout

Drug trial compensation payout
Thursday, 22 November 2007

WAGGA Wagga Base Hospital in New South Wales may be sued for millions of dollars following the payout of $750,000 to the mother of a disabled child, given misoprostol during her labour. Misoprostol, originally developed and marketed by Searle and now sold by Pfizer as Cytotec, is licensed in Australia to treat stomach ulcers in men and non-pregnant women. It can also be used prior to surgical abortion and following miscarriage.

In 2000 the manufacturer warned that misoprostol should not be used by pregnant women because it could cause unwanted abortion, birth defects and brain injury.

The Greater Southern Area Health Service has declined to offer any details of the drug trial, believed to have taken place between 2000 and 2003. Ms Kimberley Reid's case was settled out of court by the hospital late on Friday, prior to the start of a six-week hearing this Monday.

Lawyer John Potter said on behalf of Ms Reid that the details of the settlement were confidential and due to be finalised in court on Wednesday, but that the hospital had already admitted negligence.

Fifty other mothers who had taken part in the trial have contacted Potter since the case was made public in July - 12 of whom have disabled children.

Source: ConsultMagazine.net