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John Cummins, M.P.
Delta-South Richmond
www.johncummins.ca |
News Release |
February 3, 2004
Mefloquine and Suicide
Question in Parliament
OTTAWA- "The possible link between suicide and mefloquine means that the Canadian military and Canada's drug regulator must take nothing for granted with this anti-malarial drug," said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-South Richmond). "Experience to date suggests that neither the military nor the drug regulator have given the management of the risks associated with mefloquine the attention they deserve."
Cummins asked a question in Parliament with regard to the risk management of the anti-malarial drug mefloquine by Health Canada and the Department of National Defence. The question is printed on the House of Commons Order Paper as Question 12 (Q-12). It will remain on the Order Paper until answered in Parliament by the Ministers of Health and National Defence.
With regard to the use of the risk management of the anti-malarial drug mefloquine by Health Canada and the Department of National Defence:
What anti-malarial drugs have been administered to Canadian Forces personnel, giving the deployment and the number of personnel involved for each of the years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003;
Is the administration of anti-malarial drug always recorded in each soldier's medical record, (if not, indicate each time that its use was not recorded in each soldier's medical record and why);
Has any soldier ever complained that the fact he was taking an anti-malarial drug was not recorded in his medical record or the manner in which it was recorded;
Name the adverse events involving Canadian Forces personnel that have been reported by year and by deployment;
How does the Canadian Forces document anti-malaria prophylaxis;
How many Canadian Forces members deployed abroad have committed suicide in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 (i) during the mission, (ii) following the mission, (iii) of these how many had been at some time administered mefloquine;
What adverse events were reported to Health Canada in each of the years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003;
Name or describe each adverse event as recorded by Health Canada in each of the years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003;
How many of each of these adverse events were recorded by Health Canada in each of the years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003; and
Which of the adverse events reported to Health Canada in each of the years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 involved persons who had been administered the drug while in the Canadian Forces?
Contact: John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957, (cell) (604) 970-0937, (604) 940-8040 or
www.johncummins.ca
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