John Cummins on Questions On The Order Paper

With reference to the neuro-psychiatric side-effects experienced by those taking the anti-malarial drug mefloquine (Lariam): ( a ) Of those Canadians administered mefloquine prior to the date of its licensing for general use by the Health Protection Branch in 1993, how many persons committed suicide or attempted to commit suicide and how many of these incidents were associated with alcohol use; ( b ) Of those Canadians administered mefloquine after the date of its licensing for general use by the Health Protection Branch in 1993, how many persons committed suicide or attempted to commit suicide and how many of these incidents were associated with alcohol use; ( c ) Of those members of the Canadian forces who were administered mefloquine since 1992, how many have attempted suicide or committed suicide; in what year; in Canada or abroad and if abroad name the country; ( d ) Of those members of the Canadian forces who were administered mefloquine since 1992 and attempted suicide or committed suicide, how many of these incidents were associated with alcohol use; ( e ) Has the Health Protection Branch reviewed the international experience concerning suicides, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation associated with mefloquine use, and if so when, and what were the results and recommendations of the review, and what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations; ( f ) Has the Health Protection Branch reviewed the scientific literature with regard suicides, suicide attempts and suicidal ideation associated with mefloquine use and if so when, and what were the results and recommendations of the review and what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations; ( g ) Has the Health Protection Branch revised the administering instructions for mefloquine to include warnings regarding suicides, attempted suicides, suicidal ideation, or the combination of mefloquine and alcohol and if so when, and what action taken, and if not does it plan to do so and if so when; ( h ) Have the Canadian forces taken actions in regard to suicides, suicide attempts or suicidal ideation associated with mefloquine use or the combined ingestion of mefloquine and alcohol and if so what was the action and when was it taken, if not why not and when do the forces plan to do so; ( i ) Has the Health Protection Branch taken special steps to warn Canadian physicians of the hazards of combining mefloquine and alcohol, when were they taken, and if no action why not, and when does the Branch plan to act and what do they plan to do; ( j ) Have the Canadian forces noted or otherwise received letters, doctors reports or other complaints from military families of miscarriages or infant deaths where either the father or mother were administered mefloquine prior to or at the time of the child's conception?