Thalidomide: Australia gives national apology to survivors and families - BBC News

PM Anthony Albanese calls the birth defects scandal one of Australia's "darkest" medical chapters.

13 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPA/EFEImage caption, Thalidomide survivors were present in Parliament House for Anthony Albanese's apologyBy Hannah RitchieBBC News, SydneyAustralia's prime minister has given a national apology to survivors of the thalidomide scandal and their families.

It comes over 60 years after the morning sickness drug started causing birth defects in babies globally.

"This apology takes in one of the darkest chapters in Australia's medical history," Anthony Albanese told parliament on Wednesday.

It is the first time the government has acknowledged its role in the tragedy.

"To the survivors - we apologise for the pain thalidomide has inflicted on each and every one of you each and every day. We are sorry. We are more sorry than we can say," Mr Albanese said, addressing a crowd of survivors and their families in the chamber.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-67562532?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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