Medicine Without Harm - Be safe and check your medications

14th October, 2017

We've all heard the news about how prescription medication can be deadly if not prescribed or taken correctly. Unfortunately, this is an issue very close to Philip and his wife Terri, as Terri was unknowingly prescribed medication whilst pregnant which was a "Class D" scheduled drug, which should have never have been prescribed to a pregnant woman, let alone Terri in the first place.

As a result, Philip and Terri lost their unborn son, who unfortunately died in the womb and needed surgery to be removed. Not being able to fall pregnant naturally, and as the result of IVF, the most distressing part to this story was that Doctors were unable to provide an explanation as to the reason why their son had died.

Undergoing further IVF treatment, Terri again fell pregnant (this time with their last child Mia), and similar problems to the previous pregnancy resulted. At that time however, specialists finally realised that the high blood pressure drug Atacand, which was prescribed to Terri was contra indicated in pregnancy, and noted that Terri should never have been given this medication.

For the last two months of Terri's pregnancy, Terri was hospitalised in King Edward Memorial Hospital and despite several difficulties and problems because of the medication, Mia was born on the 15th August 2009 however continues to face many challenges throughout her life due to the medication's effects.

As in the case of Perth's very own Heath Ledger, who also unfortunately died from an accidental intoxication involving prescription drugs on the 22nd January 2008, Philip and Terri would like to ask everyone to please check your medications, question and discuss their use (and any associated contra indications) with your doctors, chemists or health professionals to ensure that there is no harm to either your loved ones or yourself.

Philip and Terri support the World Health Organisation's "Medication Without Harm" education program, and sincerely hopes that no other Australian ever has to go through similar issues they have, let alone the devastating after effects of such a medical mistake.

Were Australian, and we look after one another.

It's time for change Australia, and together we can do it.

Philip Couper