The family of a teenager who tragically died from a blood clot associated with her prescribed contraceptive pill is urging for increased public awareness and clearer safety information to prevent similar fatalities in the future. Aine Rose Hurst, aged 19, passed away in March last year after suffering a cerebral thrombosis connected to her use of the oral contraceptive Femodette.
Family's Heartbreaking Account and Call for Change
Speaking exclusively to Sky News' The UK Tonight programme with Sarah-Jane Mee, Aine's mother Kerry Hurst and aunt Dawn Kidd shared their devastating experience and emphasised the need for better education about potential side effects. They revealed that in the months preceding her death, Aine had been temporarily taken off the pill after an annual check-up detected elevated blood pressure levels.
Once her blood pressure stabilised within NHS-approved parameters, she was recommenced on the contraceptive medication. Mrs Hurst recounted how her daughter initially complained of headache symptoms following a social outing, which progressively worsened over subsequent days.
Critical Moments Before Tragedy
"She came into my bedroom crying, saying her head was really hurting and it was getting worse," Mrs Hurst described. "At one point she begged me to take her to hospital." After contacting their GP surgery and NHS 111 as advised, the situation deteriorated rapidly. "She just stopped responding, her head went back, and she started foaming at the mouth," her mother recalled.
Emergency services arrived promptly, but hospital CT scans revealed an inoperable blood clot in Aine's brain. Medical professionals explained that surgical intervention would likely exacerbate the situation due to the clot's size and location. They informed the family that even if she survived, Aine would probably not retain her original personality or cognitive functions.
Systemic Issues and Awareness Gaps
Ms Kidd highlighted significant concerns about medication information accessibility, noting that Femodette's packaging contained a 102-page leaflet that few patients thoroughly read. "Especially young girls," she emphasised. "There's got to be clearer labelling on these packages."
The family expressed particular concern about easy access to contraceptive pills through online pharmacies and retail outlets without adequate risk counselling. "We just want more awareness around the potential side-effects and what young women are taking and putting in their bodies," Mrs Hurst stated.
Official Responses and Medical Guidance
In a formal statement to Sky News, the Bolton GP Federation extended condolences to the Hurst family while confirming that both their internal review and the coroner's inquest concluded that Aine had been appropriately prescribed the medication according to UK Medical Eligibility Criteria standards.
NHS guidance acknowledges that while the risk of developing blood clots from combined hormonal contraception remains statistically small—affecting approximately one in every thousand users—such tragedies underscore the importance of individual risk assessment and patient education.
Broader Implications for Healthcare Practice
This case raises important questions about how contraceptive risks are communicated to patients, particularly younger demographics. The family's campaign seeks to ensure that future prescriptions are accompanied by more accessible warnings about potential serious side effects, including venous thromboembolism.
Medical professionals continue to balance the significant benefits of reliable contraception against known risks, following established protocols for monitoring blood pressure and other relevant health indicators during contraceptive use.
The Hurst family's advocacy work through The Aine Rose Contraceptive Safety Foundation aims to transform their personal tragedy into systemic improvements that might prevent other families from experiencing similar loss.
