My son David was born by emergency cesarean following labor induced with Prostin, a type of prostaglandin gel. I have since found out from Upjohn, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures this drug, that it is not FDA approved for induction of full-term labor. It is FDA approved for abortions only.
The dose I was given was eight times the dosage recommended by Upjohn and ACOG for Prepidil, another kind of prostaglandin gel which is FDA approved for induction of full-term labor. In the course of the labor my baby went into fetal distress and the emergency cesarean was performed under general anesthesia. I developed many complications after the surgery and had to be readmitted to the hospital twice, first with a diagnosis of endometritis and psuedomembranouscolitis (which I developed from the toxic antibiotics given me, one of which was Clindimiacin), and secondly with a diagnosis of enterocolitis, also from the antibiotics. It was a horrendous experience and I received no support from the midwives or their backup doctors.
In addition, my legal right to informed consent was violated. It is my right to know that a drug I am being given can cause fetal distress which can lead to fetal death. I also should have been informed that this drug is not FDA approved and that the dose I was given was eight times that of a comparable drug that is FDA approved. I would never have consented to this induction if I had known this. Whatever happened to ethical, competent care, not to mention compassion? I would love to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience with Prostin.
-Joy, mother of David, born 1/97 JBao@aol.com
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 1 Issue 10, Mar. 5, 1999)
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