Letter to the Editor

To do or not to do

Dear Editor,
As the parent of a school-child we have been sent a notice home from the Ministry of Health’s Public Health Department seeking permission to dose our child with Filariasis tablets.
This is a nasty disease and of course we would want to do all possible to ensure our child does not contract it.
However, the notice does state that the tablets “may cause your child to feel sleepy, dizzy or have a slight headache from the treatment”.
As with all treatments, it’s a question of weighing up the risks and ensuring that, on balance, the treatment is less risky than the possibility of contracting the disease, with its effects.
To do this one must be in a position of informed consent.
The notice supplies a phone number (29110). I have rung this number but been unable to obtain the answer to the question: “What is the name of the drug being used in this Filariasis Treatment Program please?” From there one can look up on the internet to find out more about the drug and its possible side effects and contra-indications, and make a final decision on whether or not to proceed with the treatment.
Is the Cook Islands Herald able to assist me with obtaining this information please?

Meitaki ma’ata
TO DO OR NOT TO DO, THAT IS THE QUESTION

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