Cork GP's decision to prescribe contraceptive pill to older patients 'unacceptable'

GP with specialist knowledge of women’s reproductive health medicine told fitness-to-practise inquiry that drug was generally not recommended for women over 35 because of increased risk of blood clots

Dorota Sanocka, who practises at Our Clinic Sanocka, based at Clogheen Business Park, Co Cork, is before an Irish Medical Council fitness-to-practise inquiry to face four allegations of professional misconduct. Picture: RollingNews.ie

The decision of a Cork-based GP to prescribe an oral contraceptive pill containing oestrogen to two older women with high blood pressure was “unacceptable”, an expert witness has told a medical inquiry.

Deirdre Lundy, a GP with specialist knowledge of women’s reproductive health medicine, said the drug, Yasmin, was generally not recommended in all but exceptional circumstances for women over 35 because of the increased risk of blood clots.