The dermatologist prescribing medicine for chronic acne asked, "How long were you on the Isotretinoin dosage?" Now, this was some six years or so ago. While the patient remembered the medicine and dosage, she had no clue how long she had taken it for. "Such fragmented medical history can cause issues," points out Dr Rohan Sequeira, a cardio-metabolic physician who is currently a senior consultant at Jaslok Hospital. Sequeira says that isotretinoin is known to cause birth defects and so, women who have been prescribed the medication have to confirm that they are not planning to conceive any time soon. A doctor would also need to know how much of the chemical remains in the patient's system.

Dr Rohan Sequeira