Physicians and pharmacists are criticizing a decision by Hospira, the sole maker of the anesthetic thiopental sodium, to permanently halt the anesthetic's production, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The medical community expressed concern that Hospira's decision could put patient groups at risk. Hospira decided to stop producing the drug after months of opposition by activists and others over its use in lethal injections.
The ASA said while most physicians favor new medications over thiopental for surgeries, the anesthetic is still essential for geriatric, cardiovascular and obstetric cases. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists said the drug is vital for specific high-risk patients for whom other drugs would pose a safety risk.
Read the Wall Street Journal report on Hospira.
Read more on sodium thiopental:
-ASA "Extremely Troubled" About Removal of Sodium Thiopental From Market
The medical community expressed concern that Hospira's decision could put patient groups at risk. Hospira decided to stop producing the drug after months of opposition by activists and others over its use in lethal injections.
The ASA said while most physicians favor new medications over thiopental for surgeries, the anesthetic is still essential for geriatric, cardiovascular and obstetric cases. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists said the drug is vital for specific high-risk patients for whom other drugs would pose a safety risk.
Read the Wall Street Journal report on Hospira.
Read more on sodium thiopental:
-ASA "Extremely Troubled" About Removal of Sodium Thiopental From Market