HSE seeks order to treat baby with anti-HIV drugs
The woman’s counsel argued yesterday the drugs have side effects which in some cases have led to deaths. The HSE says the antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis medication, if administered from birth for a four-week period, will reduce the risk of transmission. However, the woman, who the court heard had accessed information about HIV and the drugs on the internet, has expressed concern the drugs pose risks to the child.
Her counsel Fergal Kavanagh SC said these were “black-label, highly toxic” drugs which had side effects in some cases and had led to some deaths, and their risks had to be “properly weighed”. There was no conflict between the interests of the mother and child and, if it was determined it was in the child’s interests to be treated with the drugs, the mother would be happy with that, he said.
