Lariam suicide warning: Hoffman-La Roche has issued a website warning about suicidal ideation and suicide with its antimalarial drug mefloquine (Lariam). US army officials are investigating the possible role of mefloquine in murders and suicides among soldiers in North Carolina who served in Afghanistan. The company has settled a lawsuit for wrongful death with an Ohio woman whose husband killed himself after they both took mefloquine on a holiday to Africa.
Dutch drug misuse increases: In line with international trends, drug misuse in the Netherlands continues to gradually increase, according to a survey last year of 18000 Dutch teenagers and adults by Amsterdam University's Centre for Drugs Use. Overall, 17% of people had used cannabis, compared with 15.6% four years ago. The proportion of 20-24 year olds who had “ever used” cannabis or cocaine increased from 32% to 42% and from 3.9% to 8.6% respectively.
College investigates death after surgery: A woman who had to have a second operation after surgeons mistakenly put a prosthesis for a right knee into her left leg has died. Orthopaedic operations at the Prince Charles General Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, have been suspended, and the Royal College of Surgeons is investigating the incident.
Vitamins and mineral supplements under investigation: The UK Food Standards Agency is to look into safe upper levels of vitamin and mineral supplements. The move is welcomed by the UK Council for Responsible Nutrition, which represents the manufacturers of food supplements.
Outpatient non-attendance falls: The proportion of patients in England and Wales who did not attend (and failed to cancel) their first outpatient hospital appointment in 2001-2 fell to 10.9% from 11.1% in 2000-1, according to figures from the Department of Health (www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity).