§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the figure of 56 cases of pelvic infection and 12 ectopic pregnancies among women wearing the Dalkon shield are correct; and if not, what are the correct figures.
§ Dr. VaughanThe recent press article, which mentioned 59 cases of pelvic infection and 12 cases of ectopic pregnancy, correctly quoted from a report prepared by Dr. Robert Snowden in 1977. It is not possible to make any authoritative estimate of the total numbers of cases of pelvic infection and ectopic pregnancies directly associated with the use of the Dalkon shield. Dr. Snowden's survey covered cases known to have arisen in98W 20 centres over the period April 1970 to March 1977.
Dr. Snowden concluded that
the mortality and morbidity rates associated with other devices is often as high, if not higher, than those attributable to the Dalkon Shield.