I remember the terror of this quite well. Either LIFE or LOOK magazine broke the stories on this fully illustrated to the tragic consequences of this drug. I was 10 in 1961, but my Mother was deeply concerned for her younger Sister who was pregnant at that time. Fortunately the drug did not get approval in the U.S.A. and only 17 Children were effected.
shareDespite its lack of FDA approval, samples of the drug were given to lots of doctors and distributed in turn to unsuspecting patients. While are fewer than 100 children were affected, the number was considerably higher than 17.
sharenigil: I have only confirmed the 17 afflicted, if more I will not disagree with you. Still it was an nightmare for Mothers across Western Civilization and no one would want that.
shareMy mom's cousin was born without legs as a result of Thalidomide. He didn't let it stand in his way and became a successful doctor, golfer and father to two wonderful sons. Sadly he is now suffering with the final stages of early on-set dementia.
"The end of the shoelace is called the...IT DOESN'T MATTER!"
shadaif; A sad story, but fortunately it was just his legs, those with no limbs at all or sensory parts could not do that. Even today some of these drugs have so many warnings up to and including death you would be afraid to take them.
shareHe didn't let a lack of legs stand in his way??
I am such a bad human being, that made me burst out laughing.
Sorry. I'll quietly go off to Hell now.
Glad you got a laugh, I guess I should have said it didn't get in his way as, despite not having legs as a result of his mother taking thalidomide, he managed to become a successful doctor, amateur golfer, and amazing single father of two sons. We're now seeing though that there may be long term effects from the thalidomide as he has advanced early onset dementia.
"The end of the shoelace is called the...IT DOESN'T MATTER!"
Hahahaha...good catch!
"What would you like to see on your honeymoon, Mrs. Cord?"
"Lots of lovely ceilings."
Yea, but the FDA did approve DES, which was virtually a death sentence for the daughters of mothers who were prescribed it.
"What would you like to see on your honeymoon, Mrs. Cord?"
"Lots of lovely ceilings."
tzukeeper; I can understand your outrage on the DES approving a deadly drug, but do understand how this applies to our comments.
shareConfused. Please read your comment.
If you meant to say you do not understand how my comment applies to the thread, you have too much time on your hands. To criticize that my comment is OT because it digresses, yet remains in context, is ridiculous. You need to get a life.
"What would you like to see on your honeymoon, Mrs. Cord?"
"Lots of lovely ceilings."
tdzukeeper; I did read your comment, but you replied to Me not to the thread. It was NOT a criticism, but a question, can you not tell the difference or are you just that thin skinned. Finally being retired, I have plenty of time on my hands. What's your excuse?
shareI'm retired.
"What would you like to see on your honeymoon, Mrs. Cord?"
"Lots of lovely ceilings."
I was born in '62 in Canada, my mother had brutal morning sickness.
Her doctor pushed thalidomide on her... she refused. She would take no medication whatsoever during pregnancy.
I'm lucky.
Whooda_Thunkit; Seeing all the warnings on T.V. about medications makes one hesitant in taking them even with a Doctor's advice. Particularly when the final warning states 'could cause death'!
share