§ Mr. Tilleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will conduct an inquiry into the alleged use of the injective contraceptive Depo-Provera by doctors in circumstances other than those for which its use is approved by the Committee for Safety of Medicines.
§ Sir George YoungDepro-Provera is licensed for the treatment of endometriosis and used as a short-term antifertility agent where an oral contraceptive is contra-indicated or inappropriate in the following circumstances:
- a. for wives of men undergoing vasectomy until the vasectomy is effective; and
- b. in women immunised against rubella during the period of activity of the virus.
The Committee on Safety of Medicines advised the licensing authority in May 1978 that Depo-Provera should be licensed in these circumstances and a suitable warning is included in the data sheet provided for doctors.
However, it is a long-held principle of the National Health Service that medical practitioners are free to prescribe medicinal products for any indications which they consider to be appropriate in the treatment of a particular patient. An inquiry along the lines suggested into the use of Depo-Provera would not, therefore, be appropriate.