“It’s a first step,” greets the president of a patients’ association which warns about this class of antibiotics

Guest, Wednesday on franceinfo, Philippe Coville welcomes the opening of an investigation into unintentional injuries and deception.

“It’s a first step”, cautiously greets, Wednesday March 27, on franceinfo Philippe Coville, president of the association for help and information on the harmful effects of fluoroquinolones. The public health unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into unintentional injuries and deception, after receiving around twenty complaints from fluoroquinolone users, saying they had suffered “abnormal side effects”. These medications are a class of antibiotics that can be used in serious bacterial infections, and are marketed under different names: Oflocet, Ciflox or Tavanic.

The combination of help and information on the harmful effects of fluoroquinolones “brings together 650 seriously affected people” by fluoroquinolones. Some “are polyhandicapped for life, recognized as such by disability centers. They are almost abandoned in the French health system”, he laments. He is therefore delighted that justice is being taken. “It is important.” Especially since the association, “for two years, has insisted a lot to the health authorities on the adverse effects of these antibiotics”.

“A profound drift in medical ethics”

Yet, “twice as many fluoroquinolones are prescribed per capita in France as in Germany and England, without any therapeutic justification”, regrets Philippe Coville. He believes that there is “a profound drift in medical ethics”. Because according to him, “some doctors consider that they do not have to wonder about the adverse effects of the medications they prescribe and that they have the right to adverse effects in their prescription.” Gold, “it’s the complete opposite of medical ethics”, he continues. Doctor “must carry out a serious benefit/risk analysis for his patient, inform him”.

Sometimes, “there is indeed a serious infection” and the prescription of fluoroquinolones is “justified”. On the other hand, believes Philippe Coville, “In many cases, there are much less dangerous alternatives and therefore they should not be prescribed.”

The National Medicines Safety Agency is considering setting up a certification system, a form of consent signed by the patient after a prescription for fluoroquinolones. “Let’s not reverse responsibilities”, reacts this Wednesday on franceinfo Philippe Coville. He is in favor of this certification system “used for other dangerous molecules”. But “doctors must change their thinking” when prescribing medications.