Why poison your baby?
IN 1961, A GERMAN NEWSPAPER drew the attention of the public to the harmful effects of a newly introduced sleeping pill thalidomide used during pregnancy. It warned of the possiblity of foetal deformities, especially phocomelia, or more popular known as "flipperbabies". Phocomelia is...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1995
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/33782/1/DZUL460.pdf http://eprints.usm.my/33782/ |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | IN 1961, A GERMAN NEWSPAPER drew the attention of the public to the harmful effects of a newly introduced
sleeping pill thalidomide
used
during pregnancy. It warned of the possiblity of foetal deformities, especially
phocomelia, or more popular known as "flipperbabies".
Phocomelia is a very rare type of inborn malformation, but following the use of thalidomide, about 10,000
cases were found in many countries, particularly in Europe. Thalidomide was later classified as a teratogen and
was eventually banned.
But it was too late. Its traumatic effects extended far beyond the victims' families. It was a bitter lesson for
society at large. |
|---|