Sky News Home editor Jason Farrell speaks to some of those affected by the three medical products included in the Cumberlege review, including Marie Lyon the Chairwoman of the Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests, which was established in 1978.
“It has now been five years since the Cumberlege review concluded that the oral hormone pregnancy test Primodos, introduced in 1958 [the same year as Thalidomide!] should have been removed from the market in 1967 after Dr Isabel Gal reported harrowing examples of adverse harm to babies,” said Marie.
“In fact, the UK regulator had actually been aware of concerns about hormone pregnancy tests since 1958 and they failed to alert GPs adequately about the risks for young women, and the possible danger to their unborn babies until 1975.
“Even then the regulator allowed the drug to continue to be used despite the risk and the manufacturer eventually discontinued the product in 1978.”
Marie added: “During the five years since the Cumberlege review recommendations were published, which included financial redress for those affected, 61 of our members have died without receiving justice, without accountability being accepted or without the truth being accepted that we experienced ‘avoidable harm’.
“How many more of our members will die, leaving families without their much needed love and support? How can Government bodies be so inhuman as to delay justice in the knowledge that many of our families are elderly and the deaths will increase year on year.”
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