The Hindu : Controversy over use of 'Viagra' on newborns

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Controversy over use of 'Viagra' on newborns

KOCHI JULY 9. Controversy has erupted over the use of `Viagra' by a private hospital here to save the lives of two new born seriously ill babies suffering from pulmonary hypertension without allegedly seeking necessary permission from the authorities.

`Viagra' — a drug used for treating erectile dysfunction in men — was used by Amrita Institute of Medical Science (AIMS) here to treat and cure the two babies after all other treatments had failed, hospital sources said.

Hospital authorities had earlier maintained that all necessary permission from the required authorities had been taken.

When contacted, the AIMS authorities said today that they would write to the Drugs Controller-General of India, New Delhi, ``seeking further guidance to use the drug.'' They maintained that `viagra' was an approved drug for which no permission had to be taken.

The drug was ``not used as part of any clinical trial programme as such, but was used as an emergency life saving measure,'' the AIMS said in a press release today.``The claim made by AIMS only refers to the use of the drug on newborns with pulmonary hypertension. The drug is well established and there are several publications in many reputed international journals on the use of this drug. — PTI

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