[2]
On January 30, 2013 the National Agency for the Safety of Drugs and Health Products (ANSM) in France stopped sales of the drug Diane-35 due to safety concerns, including the deaths of four women from blood clots. Diane-35 manufactured by Bayer is a hormonal treatment prescribed to treat acne and commonly prescribed "off label" as an oral contraceptive.
Health Canada announced the same day that it will review the safety of Diane-35 in Canada in light of the decision in France.
Read about the French decision in the Telegraph [3] and about Health Canada's announcement on the CBC website [4].
And read about the work of Women and Health Protection [5] in Canada back in 2004 related to the safety concerns about Diane-35.
On February 19 the Canadian Medical Association Journal quoted CWHN's Executive Director Anne Rochon Ford on Diane-35.
Read Scrutiny of Diane-35 due to potential dangers of off-label prescribing [6] (Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), February 19, 2013)