British Soldiers To Sue MoD Over Controversial Anti-Malarial Drug

British soldiers are preparing to launch legal action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over the effects of the anti-malarial drug Lariam. Lariam was prescribed to British troops operating overseas despite concerns regarding mental health side effects being known and other anti-malaria drugs being available The veterans say they have suffered hallucinations, severe depression, sleep deprivation and anxiety as a result of the medication RT reports: A law firm which specializes in military claims it has had up to 30 expressions of interest and the MoD has been notified of several claims against them. Lariam is a once-a-week pill which has been linked to hallucinations, anxiety and other mental health issues in some users. Ahmed Al-Nahha, a lawyer with the Bolton Burdon Kemp law firm, said the action is a “first step to holding the MoD to account for what amounts to negligence on a grand scale.” The firm told the Express newspaper the issue amounts to a “failure of the MoD’s duty of care.” “Just because troops ultimately do what they are told, and take what they are given, doesn’t mean that their superiors should act with abandon when it comes to their safety,” Al-Nahha added. An April 2015 [...]