Hazardous contraceptive [letter]

Womens organizations and concerned physicians in India filed a petition with the Supreme Court in April 1986 to ban the injectable contraceptive Norethisterone-Oenanthate (Net-Oen). The final stage of clinical trials with this drug are in process and the Government of India plans to introduce it into the national family planning program on a wide scale. The petitioners allege that Indian women have been recruited for the clinical trials through unethical publicity campaigns that have concealed potential health hazards of Net-Oen. There is also concern that Indian primary health centers are not equipped to screen women for contraindications to Net-Oen administer the drug in a safe manner or deal with potential complications. The petitioners fear that an atmosphere similar to that surrounding the forced sterilizations of the Emergency Era will be created; moreover they claim there is a danger that the contraceptive will be injected under false pretenses without acceptors being aware they have received Net-Oen. The long-term safety of Net-Oen in terms of its effects on lactation and progeny cancer risk lipid metabolism and endometrial bleeding has not been fully assessed.