Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 9

Written Answers. - Cancer Link.

Bernard Allen

Question:

103 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on recent published reports by a person (details supplied) in the United Kingdom that there is a link between the administration of vitamin K by injection to newly born children and subsequent cancer.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

It is presumed that the Deputy is referring to a paper recently presented at a meeting of the British Paediatric Association. The study which was carried out in Bristol suggests that there may be a link between intramuscular Vitamin K and childhood cancer.

The manufacturer of the product has issued a statement to the effect that the information presented in the paper is of a preliminary nature and that there is significant evidence to suggest that the data collection was incomplete. The statement continues —"The Company is working with accredited experts to develop a comprehensive evaluation of the study and this will be made available as soon as possible".

The Company has also been in touch with our National Drugs Advisory Board which was supplied with a copy of the paper in question. A clinical committee and paediatric personnel of the Board are considering the study and will be reporting to my Department on the outcome.