Plea over pill danger

A drug company that makes a contraceptive pill used by millions of women was last night urged to spell out its side-effects more clearly after the death of a teenage girl who took it as an acne cure.

The plea was made by the mother of 17-year-old Christina Robinson, of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, who died after suffering a massive blood clot on the lung while taking Dianette.

Her mother, Hilary, said she would probably still be alive if the side- effects of the drug had been more clearly explained.

Schering, which has sold 9.5 million packs of Dianette since the drug was launched in 1987, insisted it was safe and that it contained appropriate "directions for use".

A spokesman said there were no plans to make any alterations to the drug or its instruction leaflet - although he did urge users to read the instructions very carefully before taking the drug.

Four other woman besides Miss Robinson have developed blood clots while taking Dianette in the UK in the last 10 years.

Mrs Robinson said she would be talking to her lawyers about the possibility of legal action and added that there were still "questions to be answered".