S3 Ep33: The Scourge of Thalidomide

Crimes of the Centuries

Amber Hunt and Audioboom

True Crime, Documentary, Society & Culture, History

4.6 • 3.8K Ratings

🗓️ 20 November 2023

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In March of 1954, scientists from German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal produced Thalidomide for the first time. Thalidomide was a sedative and sleep aid sold in many countries worldwide under the name “Contergan”, as well as other brands. The medication was also being marketed and taken by pregnant women as a safe remedy for morning sickness. But in November of 1961, the drug was found to have caused severe deformities in newborn children if taken during a specific point in the pregnancy. In today's episode, we learn more about what led to the Thalidomide scandal and the outcomes from the worst drug disaster in history.

"Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from the Obsessed Network exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod

Episode Sponsors:

Apostrophe- Get your first visit for only five dollars at Apostrophe.com/COTC when you use our code: COTC. That’s a savings of fifteen dollars!
Caden Lane- Head to CadenLane.com/COTC and use code COTC for 20% off your order.
Athena Club- Head over to AthenaClub.com and grab your razor kit today or you can find Athena Club Razors at your local Target. Plus with your purchase of a Razor Kit and blade subscription on their site, you can try their Gentle Body Scrub for FREE with code CRIMES at checkout (for a limited time only).

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Some crimes are so heartbreaking or shocking that they change laws, change society, or even earn the label, Crime of the Century.
0:18.0	But the stories that made headlines in decades past aren't necessarily remembered today.
0:25.0	I'm Amber Hunt, a journalist and author, and in each episode of this show,
0:30.0	I'll examine a case that's maybe lesser known today, but was huge when it happened.
0:37.0	This is Crimes of the Centuries. Dr.
0:55.4	Dr. Francis Oldham, Kelsey, stood on the White House lawn, dressed in a dark suit and pillbox hat, the only woman among the honorees on this August afternoon in 1962.
1:01.4	It surely wasn't lost on Dr. Kelsey that she was only the second woman to receive the President's
1:07.2	Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service, the first haven't been given in 1959 to Dr. Hazel Steebling, a nutritionist to help form the USDA.
1:17.7	The fourth person introduced, Dr. Kelsey stepped forward, holding her white handbag tightly.
1:23.6	President John F. Kennedy spoke on behalf of many in the country when he said of Dr.
1:28.6	Kelsey, quote, I know that we are most indebted to Dr Kelsey.
1:33.5	The relationship in the hopes that all of us have for our children, I think,
1:37.8	indicate to Dr. Kelsey, I am sure how important
1:41.1	her work is and those who labor with her to protect our families.
1:45.8	So Doctor, I know you know how much the country appreciates what you have done." Following World War II, many countries in the Western Hemisphere experienced a baby boom,
1:58.0	hence, you know, the generation being nicknamed boomers.
2:02.0	Leading the numbers for the United States and Canada,
2:05.0	while France and Austria saw the highest birth rates in Europe.
2:08.0	Other European countries still saw increased birth rates
2:12.0	just to lesser levels.
2:13.6	As such, millions of women were simultaneously
2:17.2	dealing with the symptoms of pregnancy, anxiety, trouble sleeping,
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in -498 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Amber Hunt and Audioboom, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Amber Hunt and Audioboom and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.