HUNDREDS of Scots suffering from the side-effects of steroids have
claimed they were never warned by their GPs about the drug's dangers.
They claim steroids have caused them to endure crippling illnesses
like the bone-crumbling disease osteoporosis, as well as angina,
diabetes, cataracts, weight gains, and skin disorders.
Now they are joining an estimated 2000 other victims in Britain who
are taking legal action against the medical profession, claiming they
were not informed of the side-effects.
Several of the Scottish cases are highlighted on the BBC's Frontline
Scotland programme being shown tonight.
One of those is Mr Bill Coutts, a former PT instructor from
Livingston, West Lothian, who is so crippled by osteoporosis that he is
forced to use a wheelchair.
The once fit 55-year-old claimed he had never been warned of the
potential effects of a steroid when it was prescribed in 1981 for his
asthma.
Mr Coutts said yesterday: ''I only found out by accident what they
were when I had to inject the drug myself on holiday. In the packet
there was a list with all the side-effects, none of which had ever been
mentioned to me.''
Another case highlighted in the programme was Mr Jim Hart, who died in
June after steroids irreparably damaged his immune system.
The family of the 67-year-old from Tranent, East Lothian, noticed the
changes in Mr Hart only weeks after he started taking the drug. A year
later he was dead.
After receiving hundreds of letters telling similar stories, Mr Hart's
daughter, Yvonne, is starting a campaign to make people aware of the
dangers of steroids.
Miss Tina Manuel, a solicitor with Glasgow firm L and L Lawrence who
are dealing with over 60 steroid cases, said new clients were coming in
constantly.
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