Consider issuing circular on side-effects of drug: HC to FDA

Bombay High Court has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider issuing a circular for doctors pointing out the side effects of the drug 'thalidomide', which is prescribed to pregnant women for nausea and morning sickness.
The suggestion was made by the division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice MS Sanklecha while hearing a petition filed by one Rajdeep Deshmukh, claiming that the drug causes congenital deformity.
According to the petitioner, who himself suffers from the disorder which has affected two fingers each on both his hands, use of the drug is widely known to cause phocomelia (malformation of limbs).

"The petitioner's mother was prescribed the drug for nausea and to alleviate morning sickness. But the drug was banned earlier due to its severe side effects.
"However, the doctor treating her prescribed the drug unaware about its consequences," the petition states.
While hearing the petition earlier this week, high court had directed that FDA be included as a respondent in the matter with a suggestion for it to consider issuing a circular regarding the drug for gynaecologists and obstetricians.

The matter has been posted for a hearing on Sept. 6.
Deshmukh had approached high court after the Special Medical Board certified that he was unfit for Health Science Courses.

"We are of the view that it is a fit case for directing the Director of Medical Examination and Research to send the petitioner for another... Disability test to a special medical board at JJ Hospital within a week," high court directed.
It has asked the report for the above test to be submitted by Sept. 6.
Deshmukh's advocate Pooja Thorat argued that the functional capacity of his upper limb was very strong and he can carry out all routine activities without any difficulty.