Cervical Cancer Patients Suffering Radiotherapy Injuries

EDM number 228 in 1995-96, proposed by Janet Anderson on 19/12/1995.

That this House is appalled to learn of the plight of cervical cancer patients treated at the Christie Hospital in Manchester who have suffered serious radiotherapy injuries; believes that these injuries were sustained duringan experimental course of treamtment on the Selectron machine of which patients were not properly informed, and which have resulted in patients incurring bowel, bladder andother damage which have made their lives intolerable; understands that some injuries are so traumatic that patients have tried to commit suicide, family relationships have been shattered and children have had to be fostered while their mothers are in hospital for long periods; is shocked at the lack of relevant information available before, during and after radiotherapy and that there is no counselling offered to patients or their families; considers it disgraceful that the Government is not prepared to offer the same recognition to those women who have been injured by radiation treatment for cervical cancer as they have to those similarly injured during radiation treatment for breast cancer; congratulates RAGE National on their continuing campaign to achieve proper recognition for their members who have been so injured; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Health to set up an immediate inquiry.

This motion has been signed by a total of 64 MPs.