thalidomide
Infamous pregnancy-banned drug
Thalidomide is a sedative drug introduced in the late 1950s that caused severe birth defects—most notably underdeveloped limbs—when taken during pregnancy.
The resulting scandal transformed drug safety regulation worldwide.
The drug has since found legitimate medical uses, particularly for leprosy and certain cancers, under strict controls to prevent fetal exposure.
Abnormalities present from delivery
- malformationAbnormally developed structure
- ameliaAbsent limb condition
- prenatal exposureFetal contact with substances
- teratologyStudy of developmental defects
Disastrous or sorrowful event
- victimsThose who suffer harm
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- litigationLegal dispute process
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
accountability · oversight · regulation · reform · FDA · morning sickness · public outcry · whistleblower
Active chemical compound
- sedativeDrug promoting calm
- medicationTherapeutic substance for illness
- pillSolid medicine dose
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
pharmacology · pharmacokinetics · half-life · dispensary · prescription · contraindication · side effects · withdrawal
Mycobacterial infection causing disfigurement
- cancer treatmentMedical intervention for malignancy
- remissionTemporary disease absence
- clinical trialHuman subject research experiment
- prescriptionMedical dispensing authorization
birth defects
Abnormalities present from delivery
- malformationAbnormally developed structure
- ameliaAbsent limb condition
- prenatal exposureFetal contact with substances
tragedy
Disastrous or sorrowful event
- victimsThose who suffer harm
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- litigationLegal dispute process
lawsuit · accountability · oversight · regulation · reform · FDA · morning sickness · public outcry · whistleblower · inquiry
drug
Active chemical compound
- sedativeDrug promoting calm
- medicationTherapeutic substance for illness
- pillSolid medicine dose
capsule · pharmacology · pharmacokinetics · half-life · dispensary · prescription · contraindication · side effects · withdrawal · hypnotic
leprosy
Mycobacterial infection causing disfigurement
- cancer treatmentMedical intervention for malignancy
- remissionTemporary disease absence
- clinical trialHuman subject research experiment
prescription · anti-inflammatory · pharmacotherapy · regimen · dosage
- US Medical Historypolio vaccine, Jonas Salk, Salk vaccine, Clara Barton, Walter Reed
- cancer drugsmethotrexate, chemotherapy, chemo, tamoxifen, taxol
- cancer treatmentschemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, gene therapy, radiation therapy
- chiral moleculesalanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamine
- Chiral Substancesamino acids, sugars, lactic acid, limonene, menthol
- Drug Scandalsfen-phen, OxyContin, opioid epidemic, opioid crisis, drug recalls
thalidomideprenatal vitamins
Nutrients for expectant mothers
folic acid · iron supplements · prenatal care · acetaminophen · calcium supplements
thalidomidepenicillin
Fungus-derived infection fighter
polio vaccine · Salk vaccine · insulin · aspirin · smallpox vaccine
- thalidomide babyChild harmed by 1950s sedative