Thalidomide sufferers insulted by insincere apology

Posted 09/09/2012

Chemie Gruenenthal, the German-based company responsible for inventing thalidomide has “insulted” those affected by the drug by issuing an “insincere” apology, according to campaigners.

The drug, sold in the 1950s as a cure for morning sickness, was linked to birth defects and subsequently withdrawn in 1961.

Unfortunately, by then the damage was done and more than 10,000 babies worldwide had been born with a range of disabilities caused by the drug, including shortened arms and legs, blindness, deafness, heart problems and brain damage.

There are between 5,000 and 6,000 sufferers still alive. Thalidomide UK says there are 458 people in the UK who remain affected by the drug but that for every thalidomide baby that lived, 10 died.

Whilst the apology is welcomed, the UK’s Thalidomide Trust said any apology should also accept full responsibility for marketing the drug and failing to heed the warnings. Indeed, whilst some compensation has been paid, particularly by thalidomide’s British distributor, the trust says that serious consideration must now be given towards compensating the innocent victims worldwide.

Tom Ranson of Ashtons Legal injury services says: “Whilst global cases such as this are very rare; unfortunately, injury caused by misprescription or negligent treatment is not as rare as it should be and often has a significant impact upon the victim and their family. In such cases it is imperative that the right advice and support is sought. At Ashtons Legal our medical injury team has consistently been ranked top in East Anglia. We are renowned for our persistence, our ability to win difficult cases and for going the extra mile.”