In a recent Biology class, we had the honor of having a guest speaker who is a victim of the drug known as thalidomide. Thalidomide was a drug orginally perscribed as a sedative, and became very popular during the 1950's, and became well known as a pill used to treat morning sickness of women during pregnancy. Thalidomide was later discovered to cause imparement of limb development during the 6th week of pregnancy, and resulted in deformities of the arms, and legs of the fetus. The speaker was passionate about how important understanding the affects of the drug on the developing fetus. But I could not help but notice, that she seemed extremely focused on ensuring we believed that anyone involved with the development, production, or distribution of the drug, was or is, an execrable person. She seemed obsessed with the fact that the german pharmaceutical company, Grünenthal, had a history of consorting with the Nazi party, and Hitler. I felt there was a serious lack of discernment with the nature of any successful business that thrived during the time of Nazi control in Germany. To do business with Hitler, was nothing short of a necessity if one wished for their business not only to flourish, but to even survive. Not only this, but the development of thalidomide has been claimed to have been a possible antidote for nerve-toxins (Sarin for example). Grünenthal's intentions were, quite obviously, not to carry out the doctrine of Adolf Hitler, but to do as any Pharmaceutical company strives to do, and develop drugs to be sold for medically relevant purposes. Grünenthal did not attempt to create deformities in developing of fetuses, they attempted to create a compound that could be used to help patients who may have been administered this drug.
This speaker went on to impart her experience, of sitting in a meeting of Thalidomide nature, when a reporter entered the board room, and informed her and her colleagues of a rumor, in which Thalidomide was being considered to be marketed to the public, as a prescription drug. She described the room as "silent" and that they were all shocked that this could even be considered. This was also rather confusing to me, because considering the obvious extensive damage that the drug causes in Fetus development, it seems to me that it's easily discernable that Thalidomide would not be prescribed for morning sickness symptoms as it was before. So if the drugs side-effects on pregnant women are known, then why would one raise a large fuss about it? It seems to me, that if the use of the drug is regulated, and carefully reviewed, then people have every right to access this medication with written consent of a doctor. What right do we have to demand a halt in medical advancement?
