Case 1

In July last year a girl was born in Peterborough with no thumbs and only two digits on both hands. She has severe malformations of both legs, and the left leg is much shorter than the right. Both feet taper to one toe, neither of which has nails. Her father was born in 1960 with malformations of both hands and both legs. He was treated at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, and his legs were amputated below the knee because of the severe malformations of both feet. He was assessed by the Thalidomide Victims' Compensation Panel and was awarded substantial damages and an annual pension for his severe disabilities. His mother, who is now dead, said that she had taken six to eight thalidomide tablets.

The affected child has two siblings, both boys, who are normal. Her mother was well during the pregnancy, had no bleeding in the early weeks of pregnancy, and took no …