Short Children and Growth Hormone
1 Department of Pediatrics, Box 386, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908
In Reply.
Copeland raises some interesting questions and speculation regarding the treatment of "normal short" children with growth hormone that many, if not all, of the pediatric endocrinologists who treat short children are currently considering.
Regarding the ethical question of who should or should not receive growth hormone, who should give it, who should pay for it, and what are the side effects: information is being gathered and will be forthcoming in stages. A statement prepared by the Ad Hoc Committee on Growth Hormone Usage of The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, chaired by Dr Louis E. Underwood, has recently been published.1




