What is the thalidomide tragedy?
Abstract. Thalidomide was a widely used drug in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the treatment of nausea in pregnant women. It became apparent in the 1960s that thalidomide treatment resulted in severe birth defects in thousands of children.
Who is Tom yendell?
Tom Yendell is a mouth and foot painting artist and a Board Member of the International Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (AMFPA). He has over 30 years experience of working with people with disabilities and in 1988 was named Man of the Year for his work with the less-abled.
Who manufactured thalidomide?
Thalidomide is a drug that was developed in the 1950s by the West German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal GmbH. It was originally intended as a sedative or tranquiliser, but was soon used for treating a wide range of other conditions, including colds, flu, nausea and morning sickness in pregnant women.
Who banned thalidomide?
Frances Oldham Kelsey
| Frances Oldham Kelsey | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Pharmacologist and physician |
| Known for | Preventing thalidomide from being marketed in the United States |
| Spouse(s) | Fremont Ellis Kelsey (m. 1943, d. 1966) |
| Children | 2 |
Who stopped thalidomide in the US?
Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey
In 1960, during her first month at the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey took a bold stance against inadequate testing and corporate pressure when she refused to approve release of thalidomide in the United States.
Who promoted thalidomide?
Between the launch and the grudging withdrawal on 27 November 1961, Wirtz and Mückter massively promoted thalidomide in 52 countries as “completely non-poisonous … astonishingly safe … fully harmless … completely safe for pregnant women and nursing mothers without any adverse effects on mother and child”.
Why thalidomide survivors have such a tough time getting compensation?
Victims of medication-related injuries face significant challenges in obtaining compensation. They include time barriers, difficulties proving the drug was responsible for the disability and obtaining sufficient evidence to prove a pharmaceutical company was negligent.