Hodge Jones & Allen

11th April 2011

 

New evidence links birth deformities to 1970s hormone drug

 

A client of Hodge Jones & Allen, Karl Murphy, has discovered 30 year old evidence buried in his loft which may confirm a suspected link between the drug Primodos and birth deformities, similar to those caused by Thalidomide. When Karl was born he had several fingers and toes missing. His mother was given Primodos in 1973.

 

This has opened the door to a number of fresh claims for compensation by children born at this time who suspect the drug has contributed to their deformity. Solicitor Peter Todd, a specialist vaccine and drug injury compensation lawyer who heads up the Hodge Jones & Allen personal injury team, is leading the case on behalf of Karl and his family.

 

Peter comments: "We must remember that the link has not yet been proven, however, given that the evidence has not been assessed for nearly 30 years, I feel it is both right that the decision is reviewed, particularly in light of what we now know about this whole issue.

 

"More than 1,000 people in the UK claim to have been affected by this drug, and it’s thought it may have contributed to some pregnancies ending in miscarriage. Given that in many senses there are a lot of similarities with the Thalidomide case, it’s important to look at this again. 

 

"If after a review it is still the case that a link cannot be established, everyone can be reassured that the drug was not to blame.  It must be remembered that between three and five per cent of births involve some sort of defect and the reason is not known in many cases. On the other hand, if science has established a probable link, then the people who have been affected have suffered a great injustice and it would be important that they are compensated."

 

Linda Lee, president of the Law Society has issued a statement on this case: "Drug cases are very difficult cases, involving extensive expert evidence. They would be almost impossible to bring without the assistance of legal aid. It is important to ensure a very high quality of assessment of the merits of such claims is undertaken, in order to ensure that public money is not spent inappropriately.

 

"However, if legal aid is removed entirely from such cases, as would be the likely effect of the Government's proposed reforms, then the prospects of holding any drug company to account for harm caused by their products will be minimal."

 

Primodos is being called 'the forgotten Thalidomide'. It was a tablet, taken orally to test for pregnancy, which first became available in 1959. Following concerns by doctors in its early stages, the drug was taken off the market by its German manufacturer, Schering - later owned by Bayer.

 

A decision as to whether legal aid will be granted for the case is to be made next Tuesday 19th April.

 

Although many families claimed the drug had caused deformities in their children, in 1982 lawyers advised there was insufficient evidence and the matter didn’t go any further.

 

Read corresponding articles at Sky News, The Press Association and the Daily Mail

 

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Ewbank on aewbank@hja.net / 020 7874 8345.