Woman dies from blood clot cause by contraceptive pill

A pathologist found she had a “massive pulmonary thromboembolisim” in her calf which blocked an artery to a lung.

He said the fact she was taking Dianette was “significant”.

The inquest heard Helen was technically overweight but led an active social life. She had been to the GP to discuss an increase in weight and period pains, her mother told the inquest. The GP prescribed Dianette for her heavy periods.

Mrs Schofield told the court there was no way her daughter would have taken it had the risks been outlined to her by Dr Colter. Recording a verdict of misadventure, assistant deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton said there was a known link between Dianette and DVT.

“It seems to me that the connection in this particular case is quite pronounced,” she said. “Miss Schofield took Dianette. That was a deliberate act. But of course it was not with a view to the consequence that occurred, a misadventure.”

Mrs Schofield, 62, said after the inquest: “To think others could be prescribed this drug frightens me to death. For some people it might be perfectly fine, but to me it’s a lethal drug.

“If I had known the risks there’s no way I would have advised Helen to have taken it.”

A spokesman for Bayer, the Dianette makers, said: “Every report about possible side effects is thoroughly investigated by our medical experts.”

He said the risk of a blood clot was “slightly increased” for any form of contraceptive pill.