Asking for a friend re patient leaflet info in the UK

[Pippins2]

Hi does anyone know when the warnings about augmentation and compulsive gambling were included in the patient information leaflet please?If it was on the leaflet when my friend started on Dopamine Agonist meds but her GP didn't warn about it and kept increasing the Ropinerole to extremely high doses when augmentation was obviously happening could there still be a claim for negligence.

So basically does it being on information leaflet bar you from claiming?

Thankyou

[Joolsg]

Good question..The warnings appeared around 2010 after big class actions.Leigh Day and Switalskis solicitors are clear that patients can sue doctors for failure to warn about ICD, even though leaflets have included warnings for at least 15 years. We can't sue big pharma, but we can sue GPs & neurologists.

Switalskis have talked about the possibility of bringing a test case for negligence against GPs and neurologists for failure to warn/monitor for Augmentation, but they haven't yet taken any action.

I suggest your friend contacts Kimberley Bradfield at Switalskis to discuss. Certainly NHS and NICE guidance DO mention augmentation, but they're not very clear on what the GP should do. The GP may use that as a defence.

Augmentation is more difficult because you have to sue for negligence causing damage, suffering etc. As we know, even proving the existence of RLS is difficult.

So, at the present time, particularly as NICE and NHS still list dopamine agonists as first line treatment, a GP will have a good defence.

[Pippins2 in reply to Joolsg]

Thankyou so much Jools I have messaged you