§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what restrictions there are on the prescribing on a named person basis of a drug which has had its product licence withdrawn; if his Department or the Committee on Safety of Medicines is advised each time it occurs; and what warnings the prescribing doctor is obliged to give to the patient.
340W
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department places no restrictions on the prescribing of drugs by doctors on a named patient basis. Medical practitioners are responsible for treating and advising their patients. Neither the Department nor the Committee on Safety of Medicines is normally advised when a drug is prescribed on a named patient basis.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that whenever a drug licence is withdrawn, members of the medical profession are given the facts which led to its withdrawal so that they will be aware of the risks involved if they decide to prescribe it on a named person basis and the long-term side effects which may affect their patients.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him on 2 November 1987 at column560.