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| Thalidomide drug victims launch legal action | Thalidomide drug victims launch legal action |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thalidomide victims have launched legal action against the drug's manufacturer and distributor 50 years after it was prescribed to their mothers. | Thalidomide victims have launched legal action against the drug's manufacturer and distributor 50 years after it was prescribed to their mothers. |
| The BBC has seen court documents in which eight people with a range of disabilities are claiming damages. | The BBC has seen court documents in which eight people with a range of disabilities are claiming damages. |
| Some of them were rejected by a scheme set up by distributor Distillers which compensated 460 UK survivors in 1973. | Some of them were rejected by a scheme set up by distributor Distillers which compensated 460 UK survivors in 1973. |
| The anti-morning sickness drug caused babies to be born with limb defects and damaged eyes, ears and internal organs. | The anti-morning sickness drug caused babies to be born with limb defects and damaged eyes, ears and internal organs. |
| 'Held to account' | 'Held to account' |
| The claimants are suing Grunenthal, which manufactured the drug, and Diageo Scotland which now owns Distillers. | The claimants are suing Grunenthal, which manufactured the drug, and Diageo Scotland which now owns Distillers. |
| Law firm Slater and Gordon, which is acting for the victims, said papers had been filed at the High Court on behalf of eight people whose mothers took the drug while pregnant. | Law firm Slater and Gordon, which is acting for the victims, said papers had been filed at the High Court on behalf of eight people whose mothers took the drug while pregnant. |
| Fraser Whitehead, lawyer at Slater and Gordon, said: "Grunenthal and Distillers have always claimed that the Thalidomide disaster was an unavoidable tragedy and that they did everything expected of drug companies at the time. Our research has demonstrated that is nonsense. | |
| Thalidomide | Thalidomide |
| "Both companies knew their drug was causing severe nerve damage and both were explicitly warned of the possibility Thalidomide might cause severe malformations. Yet the drug was left on the market for many months afterwards. | "Both companies knew their drug was causing severe nerve damage and both were explicitly warned of the possibility Thalidomide might cause severe malformations. Yet the drug was left on the market for many months afterwards. |
| "It is time those responsible are finally held to account for the mistakes of the past. Grunenthal, in particular, has done little make good the immense damage that it has done and it has to accept responsibility for those affected in the UK." | "It is time those responsible are finally held to account for the mistakes of the past. Grunenthal, in particular, has done little make good the immense damage that it has done and it has to accept responsibility for those affected in the UK." |
| One of the claimants, Brian Davies, 53, from Gwynedd, said he was previously refused compensation because his arms were not affected. | One of the claimants, Brian Davies, 53, from Gwynedd, said he was previously refused compensation because his arms were not affected. |
| He said: "It's a disgrace that so many people have been denied justice in this way." | He said: "It's a disgrace that so many people have been denied justice in this way." |
| 'Right thing' | 'Right thing' |
| Thalidomide was frequently used to treat morning sickness in the late 1950s and early 1960s. | Thalidomide was frequently used to treat morning sickness in the late 1950s and early 1960s. |
| When it was withdrawn in late 1961 more than 10,000 babies worldwide had been born with disabilities and only about half of them survived. | When it was withdrawn in late 1961 more than 10,000 babies worldwide had been born with disabilities and only about half of them survived. |
| A Grunenthal spokesman said: "Grunenthal confirms that the company received an email from Slater and Gordon... announcing that they have been instructed to bring proceedings on behalf of eight claimants. | A Grunenthal spokesman said: "Grunenthal confirms that the company received an email from Slater and Gordon... announcing that they have been instructed to bring proceedings on behalf of eight claimants. |
| "Grunenthal has not seen the claims to which they refer and is, therefore, not in a position to comment further." | "Grunenthal has not seen the claims to which they refer and is, therefore, not in a position to comment further." |
| Diageo said it "takes any matter relating to Thalidomide-injured people very seriously and has a long track record of doing the right thing". | Diageo said it "takes any matter relating to Thalidomide-injured people very seriously and has a long track record of doing the right thing". |
| Last year Diageo paid 89 million Australian dollars ($81m, £49m) to more than 100 Australians who suffered birth defects caused by the drug, in a settlement that led to a claim against Grunenthal being dropped. | Last year Diageo paid 89 million Australian dollars ($81m, £49m) to more than 100 Australians who suffered birth defects caused by the drug, in a settlement that led to a claim against Grunenthal being dropped. |