Investigation: A scandal worse than thalidomide
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 20 April 2022
⏱️ 39 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Doctors knew in 1973 that the epilepsy drug sodium valproate posed a risk to unborn children – and ordered that warnings be removed from packets. Almost 50 years and 20,000 disabled babies later, it is still being prescribed to pregnant women.
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Guests:
- Shaun Lintern, Health Editor, The Sunday Times.
- Janet Williams, CEO at The Independent Fetal Anti-Convulsant Trust.
- Catherine McNamara, parent.
Host: David Aaronovitch.
Clips: Channel 4 News, ITV.
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Transcript
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| 1:10.5 | Nearly 50 years ago, the Sunday Times launched a landmark campaign. |
| 1:15.7 | I was a boy when it happened and I've never forgotten it. |
| 1:19.5 | The drug thalidomide had been marketed in 1958 |
| 1:23.1 | as a treatment for insomnia and morning sickness. |
| 1:26.4 | It was found to be safe in animal trials, but it was never tested on humans. |
| 1:31.8 | Hugely effective, it became one of the world's best-selling drugs. |
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