Mefloquine: the complainants shall still have to wait

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Saturday, December 9, 2017 13:46

UPDATE
Saturday, December 9, 2017 13:46

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The veterans associated with the lawsuit against the federal government regarding the mandatory use of mefloquine within the canadian armed Forces (CAF) will have to wait until next year to find out if their case will be accepted as a class action.

Prescribed for members of the canadian army for several years, this medication is an anti-malarial to cause significant side effects as well as chronic health problems. The controversy surrounding mefloquine has convinced the FCC to make optional the intake of this drug a few months ago.

A superior Court judge heard arguments for and against to expand the lawsuit into a class action, Friday, in a court in North Bay in Ontario, as reported by the “Calgary Sun”.

The federal government as well as the pharmaceutical company Hoffman-LaRoche, who developed mefloquine, are covered by the lawsuit, which was launched in 2001.

The federal government has advocated for the abandonment of the proceedings by reason of undue delay. For his part, the lawyer of the complainant, principal, Ronald Smith, believes that the delays are excusable because of the many obstacles encountered along the way.

Among these obstacles, there are the mental health problems suffered by Mr Smith, which would be attributable to the mefloquine. There are also legal challenges and scientific challenges related to the in-depth review of the effects of the drug on the health.