SHOW / EPISODE

THE THALIDOMIDE SCANDAL

Season 10 | Episode 193
23m | Sep 2, 2026

Episode 193 | Historical Events


In this History episode we focus on the thalidomide scandal — the morning sickness drug that caused 10,000 babies to be born with missing limbs across Europe and 40 other countries, and the one FDA medical officer named Frances Kelsey who said no five times, was called fifty times by the pharmaceutical company, was described as obstructionist, and held the line until the evidence from Europe made the application impossible to defend.


She didn't know she was saving ten thousand families. She just knew the data wasn't good enough.


#HistoryMystery #Thalidomide #FrancesKelsey #MedicalHistory #History



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