When the anti-malaria drug, Lariam, was prescribed to Armed Forces personnel serving overseas in 2001, the adverse side effects weren’t adequately considered or communicated. As a result many had their careers thrown into turmoil and their family life affected.
Some of the service personnel who were given the drug experienced short-term nausea, headaches and fatigue, and many suffered with a psychotic reaction. Roche, the manufacturer of Lariam, has long accepted that the drug can have these side-affects, and yet this information wasn’t passed on to the service personnel to whom it was prescribed.
As a result we’re supporting 50 serving and ex-military personnel who are pursing claims against the Military of Defence (MOD) for adverse health effects arising from the drug. They have accepted that in numerous cases, when Lariam was prescribed to personnel the MOD was in breach of its duty of care and didn’t undertake any proper evaluation of whether the prescription was appropriate.
No consideration was given about any individual’s pre-existing health conditions or mental health history and therefore whether an alternative anti-malarial treatment should have been used. In some cases, the MOD denies the prescription of Lariam at all, but has yet to produce evidence confirming what alternative drug was offered.
As part of our investigation, we’re looking to engage the MOD in a collaborative way in order to investigate and evaluate individual cases, and help those affected. Lariam has caused long lasting and disabling health effects, which in some cases have shortened promising military careers and created enormous disruption to family life.
It’s expected that the findings of our investigation and subsequent cases for those service personnel will be concluded by the end of this year. We hope the collaborative approach we’re taking will assist with achieving a greater understanding of the use of Lariam and also help those affected move on with their lives and access the support they need to either continue their career, or transition to civilian life.
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