There have been a number of other deaths besides Lexie's. Last week they presented a 20,000-signature petition to Downing Street calling for an inquiry into corticosteroid prescription in Britain. GASP, set up after Lexie's death four years ago, also sent the petition to the European Parliament. The only thing that will make sense of their daughter's pointless death, they believe, is to make doctors more cautious about prescribing corticosteroids for conditions that are not life-threatening and to make sure patients are aware of the serious nature of the drugs they are taking. There is copious evidence demonstrating the swift and devastating dangers of steroids.
Corticosteroids are especially potent drugs.
We were told nothing to indicate we were involved in serious drug treatment. This wasn't due to lack of pressure from Art and Vicky. Educated and articulate, they took an avid interest in the drug their daughter was prescribed. The consultant said that any drug could have side effects. We pressed him to be specific about Prednisolone.