Leslie Massey
Thalidomide is a drug that was developed in Germany in the 1950s and was originally used as a sedative or tranquilizer. It was soon marketed globally as a morning sickness drug for pregnant women. However, it caused severe birth defects, usually in the form of significantly shortened limbs. In 1961, an Australian doctor, William McBride, published a letter in The Lancet medical journal warning of the dangers of thalidomide. This led to the drug being withdrawn from the market later that year. However, by then, it is estimated that over 10,000 babies worldwide had been born with disabilities due to thalidomide. In Australia, the government has been criticized for its slow response to the thalidomide scandal and its lack of support for survivors. It was not until 2019 that Australia took significant action to support survivors and offer compensation. In 2023, the Australian prime minister issued a national apology to survivors and their families. Today, thalidomide is strictly controlled in Australia and is only supplied in specific conditions for treating leprosy and some cancers, and never to pregnant women.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Thalidomide was banned in Australia | 1961 |
| Australian response to the scandal | Lagged behind many other countries |
| Australian government's action | No media campaign in the 1960s to warn pregnant women, no efforts to confiscate the drug from homes, no public acknowledgement, apology or support scheme |
| Number of known Australian thalidomide survivors | 124 |
| Australian survivor's opinion on the government's action | "Inexcusable" |
| Australian government's response | Offset tax for survivors who received corporate compensation, offered a memorial garden, promised a national apology and a national memorial |
| Australian thalidomide survivor's opinion on the government's response | "We've been pushing the government for a national apology but as it stands we still haven't received one. We've been offered an apology from the health minister in the memorial garden, but that isn't good enough." |
| Date of the first warning about thalidomide's dangers | June 1961 |
| Author of the first warning | Dr William McBride |
| Date when the Australian government was warned about thalidomide | December 1961 |
| Current use of thalidomide in Australia | Strictly controlled conditions in relation to treatment for leprosy and some cancers, never to pregnant women |
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What You'll Learn
- Thalidomide was marketed in Australia as a morning sickness pill
- It caused birth defects, usually in the form of shortened limbs
- Australian Dr. William McBride first warned of its dangers in 1961
- The Australian government has been criticised for its slow response
- In 2023, Australia's prime minister gave a national apology to survivors
Thalidomide was marketed in Australia as a morning sickness pill
In Australia, thalidomide was approved for sale over the counter without a prescription in Victoria. It was marketed under the Menzies government and was available under several trade names, including Distaval, Asmaval, Tensivale, Valgis, and Valgraine. The manufacturer, Chemie Grünenthal, and its Australian distributor, Distillers, promoted the drug as "completely harmless even for infants." However, the reality was far from this assurance.
As the usage of thalidomide increased, so did the reports of birth defects. The severity and location of the deformities depended on the gestational stage at which the mother took the drug. For instance, thalidomide taken on the 20th day of pregnancy could cause central brain damage, while taking it on day 24 could result in arm deformities. The consequences were devastating for both the mothers and their children.
In June 1961, Australian doctor William McBride wrote to the medical journal The Lancet, raising concerns about the link between thalidomide and birth defects. Despite this, the Australian government was slow to act. It wasn't until November 1961 that Distillers withdrew the drug from sale, and even then, the government did not take swift action to ban importation or prohibit its sale. This delay meant that many pregnant women in Australia continued to take thalidomide, unaware of the risks.
The exact number of people affected in Australia is unknown, but the impact has been profound. In 2019, a report found that 20% of Australia's thalidomide cases could have been avoided if the government had acted sooner. It was only in 2023 that Australia's prime minister issued a national apology to survivors and their families, acknowledging the government's role in this tragic chapter of the country's medical history.
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It caused birth defects, usually in the form of shortened limbs
Thalidomide is a compound developed in the 1950s by the West German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal GmbH. It was originally intended as a sedative or tranquilliser, but soon began to be used to treat a wide range of other conditions, including colds, flu, nausea, and morning sickness in pregnant people. During early testing, researchers found it was almost impossible to give a lethal dose of the drug to test animals. Largely based on this, the drug was deemed harmless to humans.
However, thalidomide was soon linked to birth defects, usually in the form of shortened limbs. German paediatrician Widukind Lenz conducted scientific research that proved thalidomide was causing birth defects in 1961. An Australian doctor, William McBride, also published a letter in the Lancet medical journal in 1961, warning of the dangers of thalidomide. Despite this, the drug remained on the market, and it is estimated that over 10,000 babies worldwide were affected by the drug, about half of whom died within months of being born. The babies who survived, known as "thalidomiders", were often born with severely shortened limbs or, in some cases, no limbs at all.
In Australia, the government has been criticised for its slow response to the thalidomide scandal. While the drug was ultimately removed from the market, this was only after many pregnant women in the country had already taken it. It was an Australian obstetrician, William McBride, who first warned of the dangers of thalidomide, and a midwife, Sister Pat Sparrow, who first suspected the drug was causing birth defects in babies. However, the Australian government did not conduct a media campaign in the 1960s warning pregnant women, nor did it make efforts to confiscate the drug from homes. As a result, Australia has been accused of falling behind other countries in its response to the thalidomide scandal.
In 2019, a Senate inquiry recommended government compensation, support, and a national apology for thalidomide survivors in Australia, and a financial scheme was established to provide payments to survivors. In November 2023, over 60 years after the drug started causing birth defects, Australia's prime minister finally issued a national apology, the first time the government had acknowledged its role in the tragedy.
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Australian Dr. William McBride first warned of its dangers in 1961
In 1961, Australian obstetrician Dr. William McBride first warned of the dangers of thalidomide. McBride was a well-respected doctor who, in May 1961, delivered a baby with malformed arms and severe damage to its internal organs. The baby died shortly after birth. McBride had prescribed the mother Distaval, the trade name for thalidomide in Australia, as an anti-nausea drug to combat morning sickness during pregnancy.
In June 1961, McBride wrote to the medical journal The Lancet, noting a large number of birth defects in children whose mothers had been prescribed thalidomide. This letter was the first published notification of concern regarding thalidomide. McBride's letter resulted in a reduction in the number of drugs prescribed during pregnancy. He was later awarded a medal and prize money by the French institute L'Institut de la Vie in connection with his discovery.
In December 1961, the Australian government was warned about thalidomide by the drug's distributor, Distillers. However, the Australian government did not conduct a media campaign warning pregnant women or make efforts to confiscate the drug from homes. This inaction resulted in more cases of malformed births after the drug was withdrawn, as many households still had thalidomide in their homes.
In 2018, Dr. William McBride passed away. Despite his flawed character and accusations of medical malpractice and scientific fraud, McBride is credited with linking thalidomide to birth defects and sounding the alarm on the dangers of the drug.
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The Australian government has been criticised for its slow response
The Australian government was warned about the potential dangers of thalidomide as early as 1961 when an Australian doctor, William McBride, published a letter in the medical journal The Lancet detailing his suspicions. Despite this, the government failed to take action to remove the drug from the market or warn the public about its potential risks. This inaction has been described as "inexcusable" by thalidomide survivors, who argue that the government's delay in addressing the issue resulted in preventable atrocities.
In 2019, a Senate committee report recommended government compensation, support, and a national apology for thalidomide survivors in Australia. This was the first time the Australian government had acknowledged its role in the tragedy. The report found that 20% of Australia's thalidomide cases could have been avoided if leaders had acted sooner. In November 2023, more than 60 years after the drug started causing birth defects, Australia's prime minister finally issued a national apology to survivors and their families.
While the Australian government has taken some steps to address the Thalidomide scandal in recent years, the response has been criticised as lagging behind that of other countries. Unlike the UK and Canada, which issued national apologies and established compensation schemes for survivors, Australia has been perceived as failing to adequately acknowledge wrongdoing or provide sufficient support and reparations to those affected. Thalidomide survivors in Australia continue to advocate for further recognition and redress from the government.
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In 2023, Australia's prime minister gave a national apology to survivors
In 2023, Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, gave a national apology to the survivors of the thalidomide scandal and their families. This came over 60 years after the morning sickness drug started causing birth defects in babies worldwide, including in Australia.
Thalidomide was developed in Germany in the 1950s as a sedative or tranquilizer, but it soon became promoted and used for morning sickness in pregnant women. By the mid-1950s, 14 pharmaceutical companies were marketing thalidomide in 46 countries under various trade names. It was only in 1961 that an Australian doctor, William McBride, published a letter in the medical journal The Lancet, warning of the dangers of thalidomide and its link to birth defects. The drug was then formally withdrawn by its manufacturer, Chemie Grünenthal, in November 1961, and it was taken off the market globally. However, it is estimated that by then, over 10,000 babies worldwide had been affected by the drug, with approximately half dying within months of birth.
In Australia, the government's response to the thalidomide scandal has long been criticized as inadequate and lagging behind other countries. Unlike some other nations, Australia did not conduct a media campaign in the 1960s to warn pregnant women about the drug, nor did it make efforts to confiscate it from homes. Additionally, the Australian government has been accused of failing to alert the public and search for and destroy remaining stock. While a Senate committee report in 2019 recommended government compensation and support for survivors, and a financial scheme was introduced, Australia had not publicly apologized until 2023.
In his address to Parliament, Prime Minister Albanese acknowledged the government's role in the tragedy and apologized for the pain and suffering caused by thalidomide. He recognized the long-term impact on survivors and their families, marking a significant moment in Australia's recognition of and response to the thalidomide scandal.
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Frequently asked questions
Thalidomide was banned in Australia in 1961.
Thalidomide is a compound 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 people.
Thalidomide caused birth defects, usually in the form of significantly shortened limbs. In some cases, babies were born without limbs.
In 2013, a group of Australian survivors won a payout from the company that distributed the drug. In 2019, a report found that 20% of Australia's thalidomide cases could have been avoided if leaders had acted sooner. In 2023, Australia's prime minister gave a national apology to survivors and their families.
