‘HSE must contact women who took epilepsy drug that endangers foetus’

A HSE clinical advisor warned senior colleagues last year that the executive knew the names and addresses of 1,700 women of childbearing-age who were prescribed a drug that can harm the foetus, and must consider its “duty of care” by potentially writing to them directly.

According to a report in The Medical Independent, the advice was sent in October by HSE National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Primary Care, David Hanlon, to Áine Carroll, HSE National Director for Clinical Strategy and Programmes and colleagues.