english.prescrire.org > Spotlight > Archives : 2014 > Victims of adverse drug reactions; coming out of denial as a society, in the name of better care

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Victims of adverse drug reactions;
coming out of denial as a society, in the name of better care

Pilule d'Or Prescrire 2014In 2014, in Europe, victims of serious adverse drug reactions are still having huge difficulties in being recognised as such. It is time to point out the inacceptable nature of this situation, and to take action.
A conference-debate on this theme was held at Prescrire's annual "Pilule d'Or" ("Golden Pill") awards ceremony, which took place in Paris on 30 January 2014.

Millie Kieve, the founder of the UK charity April (Adverse Psychiatric Reactions Information Link) offered a chance to listen to victims' voices, especially via personal stories.

Sophie Le Pallec, president of  Amalyste, a French group that offers advice and assistance to victims of Lyell and Stevens-Johnson syndromes (extremely severe adverse drug reactions), explained how in practice it is nearly impossible for victims of adverse drug reactions to be recognised as such, most notably because of  poorly adapted legislation.

Bruno Toussaint, the Publishing Director of Independent French medical journal Prescrire, underscored the importance of listening to victims, in the name of better care: "many tragedies can be prevented by a better choice of treatments.(...) Everyone gains by listening to the victims of adverse drug reactions. Everyone gains by getting to know them, by recognising them, by listening to them. Their experiences, their personal stories and those of their entourage are a rich source of  movement towards better care, towards a better choice of treatments, towards better information and better education, towards better regulation of the pharmaceuticals market, for better management of health insurance resources, and also for a profound re-thinking of how victims of adverse drug reactions should be taken care of, including from a legal point of view (...)".

> Click here for the texts and videos of the Conference-debate (in French)

©Prescrire 1 February 2014
For more information:

Texts and videos from
the Conference-debate
at Prescrire's 2014
"Pilule d'Or" ("Golden Pill")
awards ceremony
(February 2014)
Free (in French)

Listening to victims' voices
Presentation by Millie Kieve
at the 2014 Prescrire
"Pilule d'Or" ("Golden Pill")
awards ceremony
Pdf, free

"Gueules cassées du médicament" :
d'épreuves en épreuves
Presentation by Sophie Le Pallec
at the 2014 Prescrire
"Pilule d'Or" ("Golden Pill")
awards ceremony
Pdf (in French), free

D'abord ne pas nuire ;
puis comprendre et agir
Presentation by Bruno Toussaint
at the 2014 Prescrire
"Pilule d'Or" ("Golden Pill")
awards ceremony
Pdf (in French), free