HC Deb 15 January 1993 vol 216 c847W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efforts are being made to ensure that patients for whom myelography is proposed are made fully aware of the risks of that specific form of treatment.

Mr. Sackville

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: This forms part of the process of achieving informed consent from the patient prior to the procedure.

Patients are entitled to receive sufficient information in a way that they can understand about the proposed treatment, any possible alternatives and any substantial risks. Patients must then be allowed to decide whether they will agree to the treatment. This important principle has been highlighted in the patients charter.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to radiologists and radiographers regarding the dangers of use of the contrast medium iophendylate.

Mr. Sackville

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: Iophendylate is the active ingredient of Myodil. I refer the hon. Member to the replies that my right hon. Friend gave the then right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South, Mr. Ashley, on 13 December 1990 at columns 466–69.