Horizon TV - Thalidomide: The Fifty Year Fight TV - World in Action TV - John Pilger TV -
Thalidomide was the great drugs disaster of the post-war era. Given to expectant mothers with morning sickness in the late 1950s it was not long before its devastating side-effect became clear. It was withdrawn in 1961, and brought with it new trials procedures that were supposed to prevent anything like it happening again. But they haven’t. Horizon: Pill Poppers, BBC 2010
Over fifty years ago the drug Thalidomide shocked the world. For ten years a battle for compensation was fought against one of Britain’s largest corporations. One man stood up against this injustice [David Mason]: but this man would see those he was fighting for turning against him. And many attempted to silence his story. But his actions set in motion a change of events that changed the lives of every Thalidomide child in this country. Thalidomide: The Fifty Year Fight, BBC 2014
Between 1959 and 1963 hundreds of babies across Britain were being born severely damaged by Thalidomide. ibid.
Over one hundred and eighty million tablets had been sold in over forty-six countries. This was a global tragedy. ibid.
Distillers refused to accept liability for the tragedy. ibid.
Murdoch had secretly funded this national guerrilla [poster] campaign. ibid.
In the first few weeks of her pregnancy his mother … took five sleeping tablets. The tablets were called Distaval – they contained the drug Thalidomide. Kevin was born without arms and legs, he has no shoulders or hips and severe internal damage. There are over 700 Thalidomide children in this country … Distillers have always denied negligence. World in Action: Thalidomide, ITV 1963
Kevin Donnellon is 11 years old and lives with his family in a suburb of Liverpool. In the first few weeks of her pregnancy his mother, Agnes Donnellon, took five sleeping tablets. The tablets were called Distaval; they contained the drug Thalidomide. World in Action: A Day in the Life of Kevin Donnellon, ITV 1972
There are over 400 Thalidomide children in this country and Kevin is one of the most severely affected. ibid.
25 year ago almost to the day Louise was born without arms and legs, a victim of a drug called Thalidomide. It had been prescribed to her mother as a sedative during pregnancy. The makers said it was safe. World in Action: Born Survivors, ITV 1987
In Britain there are more than 400 victims of Thalidomide. ibid.
The Thalidomide affair is not over. Last year after eleven years of struggle the children won their compensation. But there are still 98 children whose mothers believe they took Thalidomide and who’ve got nothing. John Pilger: Thalidomide: The Ninety-Eight We Forgot, ATV 1974
Thalidomide the wonder drug was introduced in 1958 by Distillers’ company Biochemicals … It’s advertising said how safe it was … Two and a half years later the drug was withdrawn after reports of deformities in newborn babies. ibid.