Thalidomide “hero” dies at 101

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More than 50 years ago many pregnant women in Canada took a morning sickness pill that led to devastating consequences. Thalidomide produced birth defects, and a triggered a controversy that still echoes today, but the drug was never sold in the U.S, largely because of one doctor, a Canadian.

Her name was Frances Kelsey, and she died today at the age of 101.

Kelsey, who was born on Vancouver Island, passed away this morning in London, Ontario with her daughter Christine by her side.

This comes less than 24 hours after she received the Order of Canada for her heroic work. Ontario’s Left-tenant Governor presented her the award in a private ceremony at her daughter’s home.

Kelsey was a medical officer for the U.S food and drug administration in the early 1960s when she raised concerns about the anti-nausea drug thalidomide.  It was being used in other countries to treat morning sickness and insomnia in pregnant women.

Despite pressure from the makers of thalidomide to approve the drug for the American market, Kelsey refused, and as a result, thousands of children were saved from crippling birth defects and new standards were created to prevent future tragedies.

Today, the U.S food and drug administration honoured Kelsey by tweetng out a link to a photo showing her receiving the President’s distinguished federal civilian service award in 1962 from U.S president John F. Kennedy.

Over the next four decades, Kelsey remained an instrumental figure in shaping and enforcing protocols for drug licencing.