Intended for healthcare professionals

News

Thalidomide manufacturer offers apology but no compensation

BMJ 2012; 345 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e5930 (Published 04 September 2012) Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e5930
  1. Anne Gulland
  1. 1London

Groups representing people affected by the drug thalidomide have condemned an apology made by the drug’s German manufacturer.

Harald Stock, chief executive of Grünenthal, has expressed his regret to the thousands of children born with missing or deformed limbs as a result of their mothers taking the morning sickness treatment in the 1950s and 1960s.

Stock, who was speaking at the unveiling of a memorial to people affected by the drug in Stolberg, Germany, said that the company had failed to reach out “person to person” and that “instead, we remained silent.” He added, “We ask that you regard our long silence as a sign …

View Full Text

Log in

Log in through your institution

Subscribe

* For online subscription