Prime Minister of Australia Apologizes to Survivors of Thalidomide Tragedy

Babies were born with shortened limbs, blindness, deafness, and malformed organs.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued a formal apology to the survivors of the thalidomide tragedy that impacted 10,000 babies globally during the 1950s and 1960s. Thalidomide, which was prescribed to pregnant women for anxiety, morning sickness, and insomnia, led to severe birth defects despite assurances of safety. These birth defects included shortened limbs, blindness, deafness, and malformed organs, and many women experienced miscarriages or lost their babies shortly after birth.

Albanese offered an apology to all survivors and their families on the 62nd anniversary of thalidomide’s withdrawal in Australia. He acknowledged that the apology was long overdue and expressed sorrow for the pain and suffering inflicted upon the victims.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also joined in the apology and expressed regret for the historical negligence in addressing the situation. The Australian Parliament also held a minute of silence to honor those who were lost.

Albanese recognized that an apology cannot fully compensate for the years of inaction by the government, particularly the absence of a proper system to evaluate the safety of medicines at the time thalidomide was used. He announced the reopening of the Australian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program to provide lifelong support and a one-time payment for pain and suffering, with plans to increase assistance for survivors in the future.

The aftermath of the tragedy saw a senate inquiry in 2019, which made recommendations for a national apology. A Senate report revealed that prompt government action in the 1950s could have potentially spared 20% of the survivors from the tragedy.

Thalidomide was later discovered to have uses in treating diseases of the immune system, such as cancer. While the drug is now used for medical purposes, its risks are still cautioned. Both men and women taking thalidomide are educated on the risks to an unborn child and are advised not to reproduce while using the drug. Thalidomide’s manufacturer has implemented a pregnancy prevention program to ensure the safe handling and administration of the drug.



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