Controversy over new data on oral contraceptives

BMJ 1995;311:1228 (4 November)

Letters

Controversy over new data on oral contraceptives

Risk of delay was small

EDITOR,--The rapidity with which the Committee on Safety ofMedicines released its advice about the risk of thromboembolismassociated with oral contraceptives has caused much anger, concern,and confusion.¹ Critics of the committee maintain that (a) systemsexist for the rapid dissemination of information to medicalpractitioners, (b) these systems could have disseminated informationto medical practitioners within 12-48 hours, and (c) the shortdelay resulting ng from the use of thesesystems would have resultedin less confusion, concern, and anger. The committee seems,however, to have thought that the dangers were so great thatno delay was acceptable.

How many women would have been harmed if Professor Michael Rawlins,the chairman of the committee, had delayed his announcementby 48 hours? Professor Rawlins's letter states that the maximumthromboembolic risk from oral contraceptives that do not containdesogestrol and gestodene is 10 cases per . . . [Full text of this article]

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