updated January 27, 2010

Here is a drug that should have some special attention.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20070909/NEWS/709090463

It seems surreal to think that doctors would give a drug as potentially harmful as this to a baby, and not tell the parents, even afterwards.  Yet, Dr. Felice, as noted in that article, thinks that telling parents would "confuse" them.  I'm confused about why this is considered ethical.

I've been contacted by other parents and heard similar stories.  What has happened in these cases, is that a newborn is given formula.  Formula has risks of bacterial infection, and if the baby shows signs of the infection, gentamicin is prescribed.  And if the gentamicin is not monitored, or if the kidneys are weakened, there is a risk of deafness, balance problems, and perhaps brain damage.


INFORMED CONSENT - IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR, IS IT?  GENTAMICIN HAS RISKS OF DEAFNESS, KIDNEY PROBLEMS, NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS.



http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht02/ht02027.htm


HB 2027 – An Act relative to gentamycin pediatric risk notification.

SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 220 the following section:-

Section 221. Any medical professional prescribing the antibiotic gentamycin for pediatric patients shall be required to provide parental notification prior to prescribing the medication. The parental notification shall include the potential risks and side effects associated with the antibiotic, including ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity.

Any medical professional prescribing gentamycin to a pediatric patient shall document in the patient’s medical records the medical risks and side effects associated with the medication, including ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Any pediatric patient who is prescribed gentamycin shall have periodic serum peak and trough gentamycin blood level tests to monitor the patient’s health. Any medical professional prescribing gentamycin to a pediatric patient shall notify the Massachusetts commission for the deaf and hard of hearing each time the antibiotic is prescribed.


Please contact your Massachusetts state representative, senator, and governor and ask that this bill gets the support it deserves. 

What is Gentamicin?   U-Michigan says: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/mc13/gentamicin_clinical_use&config=Yjk0uiJx0RSZNK8yBZKc90
 
Rxlist says: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/pedgenta.htm

WebMD says: http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-1496-Gentamicin%20Inj.aspx?drugid=1496&

Dr. Hain says: http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bilat/gentamicin%20toxicity.htm


The first full sentence at the National Institute of Health webpage on this drug tells us "Gentamicin can cause severe hearing and kidney problems."  I wish I'd been told that at the start.  I wouldn't be writing this now.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682275.html