On Wednesday November 29, the Australian government officially apologized to the victims of thalidomide, a drug that caused deformities in thousands of children around the world in the 1950s and 1960s.
“We owe Australian thalidomide victims an apology”said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in front of the survivors present in the House of Representatives on the occasion of the 62nd anniversarye Anniversary of the withdrawal of this medicinal product from the market. “Today Australia will finally apologize”he continued. “This apology addresses one of the darkest chapters in our history. »
Back then as described “miracle drug”, Thalidomide was prescribed starting in 1956 as a sedative to relieve nausea in pregnant women. It was widespread worldwide and had terrible effects on the embryo before it was withdrawn from the market in 1961: between 10,000 and 20,000 babies were born with missing arm or leg segments, hands or feet directly to the torso.
Australian obstetrician William McBride was one of the first doctors to sound the alarm in 1961, noting that women who took this drug were more likely to give birth to children suffering from stunted growth or malformations. According to the Australian government, around 150 thalidomide survivors benefit from the Australian support program.
