"Thalidomide tragedy": apologies after half a century
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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Thalidomide is a notorious sedative for pregnant women who took it as a sedative and hypnotic. The manufacturer of the medicine, which was sold in Germany without a prescription, is the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal.
The drug was widely known for its teratogenic effect. Thalidomide caused violations of embryonic development, morphological abnormalities and malformations in children.
It was found that between 1956 and 1962, in a number of countries around the world, between 8,000 and 12,000 children with malformations caused by thalidomide were given different estimates. Later this period was called "Thalidomide tragedy".
In 1958, the manufacturer called thalidomide "the best medicine for pregnant and lactating mothers."
Fifty years after the drug was discontinued, Chemie Grünenthal, a former drug maker, decided to apologize to thousands of people who were born with developmental abnormalities.
The reason for repentance was the opening of a monument to children who suffered from the use of their monstrous medication by their mothers.
Bronze sculpture is dedicated to children born with disfigured limbs. Chairman of the Board of Chemie Grünenthal Harald Stock for the first time in half a century of silence uttered the words of condolence and sympathy for the injured drug to children.
Stok told about close cooperation of the company with public organizations, which include the victims. This interaction, according to Stock, gave the company's management to understand that public repentance is the minimum payment for injuries caused.
He asked to regard the company's long silence as a shock, produced by the consequences of using the drug.
"Forgive us for the fact that for almost half a century we were silent and did not find a way to address you in a human way," Stock said.
In addition to the apologies brought by the company too late, many victims began to receive compensation for the damage done to their health.
"We understand emotions and see the physical difficulties that sufferers suffer. Their mothers bear on their shoulders every day the burden that our company brought them, "the chairman said. "We bitterly regret the tragedy that has taken place."
The head of Grünenthal stressed that at the stage of clinical drug research, it was impossible to detect a teratogenic effect from its use.
Most of the victims of the drug did not appreciate the belated repentance of the company. Victims and relatives regarded the half-century confession of guilt as an advertising trick.