Survivor: German firm's apology for birth defects caused by thalidomide, "not enough"

Thalidomide was prescribed for morning sickness during the 1950s & 60s. It was responsible for birth defects, most commonly deformities of the arms & legs, but including problems in the heart, sight, hearing & less commonly, brain damage.

Perhaps the saddest irony is that the thalidomide molecule has left & right hand versions, one of which is effective against morning sickness; the other causes birth defects. If the offending version of the molecule had been eliminated from the marketed drug, all of those birth defects could have been avoided.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/01/health/germany-thalidomide-apology/index.html

/ Pharmaceutical firm Gruenenthal apologized drug thalidomide /