What went wrong with thalidomide?

Answer 1

Thalidomide was a drug introduced in the early 1960s intended to reduce morning sickness during pregnancy. The very sad side effect was that many babies were born with stunted limbs, arms and/or legs less than half the proper length. People thus affected would now be in their late 40s. I recollect seeing one at work a few years ago, she had small hands coming almost directly from her shoulders.

More Info:

There is one case of a woman barely in her 30's who was born with mild symptoms from the drug due to incomplete removal of it from doctors offices / pharmacies. it was so bad people did not even develop...xxxxx

I am told by my daughter that it was in use in some South American families until fairly recently as a drug for some medical conditions in males. Unfortunately, many doctors did not explain to the males (often in poor districts with high illiteracy) that on no account should it be handed on to females. So affected babies were born in recent decades.