Contergan Scandal
January 7, 2008
Fifty years after one of the worst pharmaceutical scandals in history, Germany's thalidomide victims are demanding an inquest into events surrounding the production and marketing of Contergan by the German drugs company Grünenthal, based in Aachen. Contergan, a sedative which contained the active ingredient thalidomide, was prescribed to pregnant women in the late 1950s, and caused their fetuses to be born with severely shortened limbs, or in some cases, no limbs at all. Around half of the 10,000 thalidomide victims worldwide were born in West Germany.
The president of Germany's association of Contergan victims, Andreas Meyer, says the tragedy has never been fully investigated, nor is he happy with what he says is Grünenthal's silence on the issue. The company has never formally apologized, although in the past month, it has begun meeting with victims' representatives seeking an improved health and financial situation for the some 2,700 thalidomide victims still living in Germany.
"We want to know exactly what happened," Meyer said, adding that he was not prepared to accept an apology on its own without the appropriate compensation.
More financial aid needed, victims say
Thalidomide victims say a compensation fund set up in 1970 has been exhausted and that many now need extra help as arthritis and age bring pain after a lifetime of unnatural movement.
Grünenthal had said that the 110 million deutsche marks (56.3 million euros or $83 million at current rates) it paid into a trust in 1971 was a final settlement of all claims in Germany. The modest monthly stipends of 545 euros victims currently receive are entirely funded by the government.
Among the victims' demands is a six-fold increase in these monthly payments to an amount between 2,100 and 3,500 euros, as well as a one-time compensation payment of around 1 million euros per victim. The victims' representatives are planning a parliamentary campaign to make their case to both the federal government and Grünenthal.
"An independent lifestyle is not possible with the current level of monthly payments," said Udo Herterich of the regional thalidomide victims' association in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. "We're getting older, we're suffering more from the consequences of our disabilities and we need more and more help."
Grünenthal CEO "very moved"
The victims' associations were hopeful that Grünenthal would reassess its position following an initial meeting with employees last month. Grünenthal CEO Sebastian Wirtz described the meeting as "very moving," and said that he and his family regretted very much the events of 50 years ago.
"Even though I hadn't been born at that point, as a family member of the third generation, I would like to try, together with those affected, to come to terms with the Contergan tragedy," Wirtz said.
On the weekend, various associations of German Contergan victims joined forces with the International Contergan Alliance, made up of the national associations of Great Britain, Spain, Sweden and Canada. The British alliance has already attained monthly payments of between 2,100 and 3,500 euros for its members.
The thalidomide dispute again made headlines in Germany following a two-part television drama that aired in November about parents who struggle for justice after their daughter is born with only one leg and shortened arms.