§ 9. Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if there is any substantial evidence to suggest that the taking of aspirin and similar drugs is in any way detrimental to the health of a pregnant woman or the foetus.
§ Dr. VaughanI know of no evidence which indicates a special risk to the pregnant woman or foetus arising from such medicines. However, in view of a recent report of an association between aspirin and blue babies, I am urgently seeking the advice of the Committee on the Review of Medicines.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIs the hon. Gentleman aware that many women are greatly confused by the newspaper reports, particularly in the light of the comments of the director of the child hospital in Toronto, Dr. Richard Rowe, who suggested that the sensitive period is the last three months of pregnancy and that there is insufficient evidence to establish whether aspirin is dangerous? Can the Minister give guidance to pregnant mothers?
§ Dr. VaughanI hope very much that the media, while warning of doubts about drugs, will also give reassurance in respect of drugs which have been used for a very long time. Aspirin is such a drug. There is extensive clinical experience that aspirin has no harmful effects. At first sight the evidence to which the hon. Gentleman refers is not strong, but I am taking urgent expert advice on this matter.
§ Mr. MellorDoes my hon. Friend agree that there are far too many scare stories about this sort of thing? Is he aware that, since the last scare story about Debendox, thousands of women throughout the country, including my wife, have given birth to perfectly healthy babies after taking the drug? Does he agree that it is about time this sort of preposterous scaremongering and publicity-seeking by certain hon. Gentlemen ceased?
§ Dr. VaughanYes, I agree wholeheartedly with my hon. Friend. I assure him that we shall do everything we can to see that scares are not perpetuated. Pregnant women are normally at no greater risk from aspirin than any other women.
§ Dr. Roger ThomasWith more and more drugs coming under suspicion as to their tetragenic effects, ought it not to be the policy of the DHSS to ensure that women under 16 weeks of pregnancy should take medicine only when it is necessary and is prescribed for them by their physicians?
§ Dr. VaughanAs the hon. Gentleman knows, women are already advised that during pregnancy they should not take drugs except on the advice of their doctors.
§ Later—
§ Mr. AshleyOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The whole House will know that when a personal attack is made on one hon. Member, it is a convention of the House that that hon. Member should be allowed to reply. During Question Time this afternoon, a strong attack was made from the Government Benches on the campaign against Debendox. The House will know that I am the one hon. Member who has campaigned for the suspension—not the ban—of that drug. I have tabled an early-day motion and I have asked questions on the subject, and yet I was denied the right to reply to that personal attack. I therefore submit, Mr. Speaker, that you were wrong in refusing to allow me the privilege of making a reply.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe right hon. Gentleman was not named in the question that was asked, and, therefore, his complaint has no substance whatsoever.
§ Mr. AshleyFurther to my point of order, Mr. Speaker. With respect, I submit that the fact that I was not named in the question to which I referred is wholly irrelevant, in so far as the whole House knows that I am the only Member who has campaigned for the suspension of the drug Debendox. I respectfully submit, Mr. Speaker, that you are wrong in your interpretation and that I have every right, in view of the fact that the Minister endorsed criticisms—[Interruption.] I know that the Minister has no evidence to support—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I am sorry that the right hon. Gentleman is upset, but I cannot change my ruling.