Tuesday, September 25

The 50th anniversary of Thalidomide

It is now 50 years that a pregnancy drug went spectacularly wrong. The word Thalidomide entered into the dictionary, a word meaning an unthinking and risky approach to medicines which blighted the lives of thousands of people. Babies were born with devastating injuries and liabilities, families were torn apart and many died. The babies are now growing up and still face a huge burden for the rest of their lives.


Even this horrible accident made many things better for the rest of us, drug testing was improved, legal history was made in terms of compensation, we understood pregnancy much better (I dont know much about this pregnancy malarky, but my wife does, check out her site).
The German company apologised and is considering fresh support for victims still alive.


Children born to mothers on thalidomide


Hear, Read and Weep

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