Thalidomide Research Paper
Dr. Frances Kelsey and Thalidomide "If they are serious about admitting they are at fault and regret what happened, they need to start helping those of us who were affected financially." This quote was from Freddie Astbury, a victim of the side effects from the drug Thalidomide. Thalidomide was a drug that pregnant woman took in the 1960’s for morning sickness. Dr. Frances Kelsey, a medical officer for the FDA in 1960s, saved millions of babies from birth defects by calling attention to Thalidomide and single-handedly played a role in the future drug-approval policies of pharmaceutical companies in the United States. Morning Sickness occurs in about 70 - 80 percent of all pregnant women everywhere. The technical term for morning
…show more content…
They created this drug to help women with morning sickness. Before Dr. Frances Kelsey worked for the FDA, it was already being marketed to forty-six different countries (Helix, Connecting Science to You). When it was sent to the FDA for approval to be sold in the United States it was given to Dr. Frances Kelsey as her first drug to approve while working for them. Dr. Frances Kelsey started working for the FDA in the 1960’s and led the Division of Scientific Investigations (FDA.com). Other than Dr. Frances Kelsey two other people tested Thalidomide. The Chemist that reviewed it was Lee Geismar, and the Pharmacologist was Jiro Oyama. Dr. Frances Kelsey knew that she only had sixty days to approve or disregard the drug. Dr. Kelsey decided to disregard it because when they tested the drug to be approved it did not meet the requirements.
A couple years later the drug was approved to be distributed in the United States but only to a specific handful of doctors to treat certain types of cancer. Also, the drug has a warning label telling doctors or patients the severe side effects the drug comes with. Along with all that, Thalidomide is not to be used on pregnant woman for morning sickness. The drug is still on the market today, but not sold over the counter it must be distributed to the person by their
They created this drug to help women with morning sickness. Before Dr. Frances Kelsey worked for the FDA, it was already being marketed to forty-six different countries (Helix, Connecting Science to You). When it was sent to the FDA for approval to be sold in the United States it was given to Dr. Frances Kelsey as her first drug to approve while working for them. Dr. Frances Kelsey started working for the FDA in the 1960’s and led the Division of Scientific Investigations (FDA.com). Other than Dr. Frances Kelsey two other people tested Thalidomide. The Chemist that reviewed it was Lee Geismar, and the Pharmacologist was Jiro Oyama. Dr. Frances Kelsey knew that she only had sixty days to approve or disregard the drug. Dr. Kelsey decided to disregard it because when they tested the drug to be approved it did not meet the requirements.
A couple years later the drug was approved to be distributed in the United States but only to a specific handful of doctors to treat certain types of cancer. Also, the drug has a warning label telling doctors or patients the severe side effects the drug comes with. Along with all that, Thalidomide is not to be used on pregnant woman for morning sickness. The drug is still on the market today, but not sold over the counter it must be distributed to the person by their