Safety of pill questioned once more

The safety of the contraceptive pill is once more being called into question after it was revealed that a 15 year old school girl from Leicester suffered a stroke after being prescribed the drug from her GP.

Gemma Hill was give the pill by a doctor because of severe period pains and stomach cramps, but after just a few weeks of taking a daily dosage she collapsed and had to be rushed to hospital.

Following four days of regular fits, the teenager suffered a stroke due to a blood clot forming on her brain.

He mother, Maria Murphy, explained to the Daily Telegraph that after two months of treatment she suffered another stroke. Doctors said that the blood clots were likely to have been caused by her going on the pill.

The story of her plight has come to light this week after news that the health authorities are considering giving the contraceptive pill to 13 year old girls without the need for a prescription from a doctor.

"It would be ridiculous to let girls who are just 13 years old to be able to get the pill without seeing a doctor,” Mrs Murphy told the newspaper.

"I think teenagers under 16 should need parental permission and a consultation with their GP before going on the pill, otherwise they won't be adequately informed.

"They're just going to walk into their local pharmacist and say, 'give me the pill', and that's it. It's crazy."

It is the view of the health authorities that giving out the pill to younger people will help to reduce the number of teenagers falling pregnant and having to miss vital schooling as a result.

The government has thrown its weight behind the scheme and recommended that it be rolled out across the country.