Epilepsy drug register to monitor birth defects
The health service is compiling a register of women who may have been affected by a controversial epilepsy drug during pregnancy.
The move follows calls for an investigation into how pregnant women were not told about the dangers of sodium valproate to unborn children.
The drug, which is marketed as Epilim, is linked with a condition known as foetal anticonvulsant syndrome (FACS) and carries a 10 per cent risk of causing physical abnormalities in unborn babies and a 40 per cent risk of developmental problems such as autism. It has been estimated that at least 400 Irish children suffered birth defects and developmental issues because their mothers took it while pregnant.
The mothers of children with developmental problems and disabilities have said that they were