Mothers call for compensation for families affected by Sodium Valproate linked to birth defects
“Two mothers have told MPs about the devastating effects an epilepsy drug they were prescribed while pregnant has had on their children.
Emma Murphy, from Greater Manchester, and Janet Williams, from Lancashire, have been campaigning for decades to get compensation for families affected by Sodium Valproate.
The drug is used to treat several conditions, but it should not be given to women of child-bearing age unless they are on a pregnancy prevention programme, as it can cause lifelong disabilities to babies exposed in the womb.
After decades of parents and medical practitioners raising safety concerns, a 2020 review concluded that thousands of mothers and babies had been exposed to avoidable harm.”