§ 60. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the use of the drug Oxytocin in childbirth; and if, in view of the fact it has been banned in the United States of America, he will refer its use in the United Kingdom to the Committee on Safety of Medicines.
§ Mr. Ennals:I have received from time to time representations about the induction of labour but I am not aware of any which refer specifically to the use of oxyctocin. The Food and Drugs Administration—FDA—of the United States of America has not banned Oxytocin but has advised doctors not to use it to induce labour for non-medical reasons. I have no evidence that it is used for such purposes in NHS hospitals. There are, however, many medical indications for induction and both the United Kingdom licensing authority and the FDA consider that the benefits of oxytocin-induced labour outweigh the known possible risks where continuation of pregnancy threatens the health of the mother or her baby. The Committee on Safety of Medicines keeps 582W the safety of this and all other medicinal products under continuous review.