In 1973, a drug called sodium valproate was put on the market to help with individuals living with epilepsy. It was incredibly effective. It reduces excessive electrical activity in the brain and prevents epileptic seizures. For many people, it was a ray of light. Today it remains one of the most effective ways of treating epilepsy. But the treatment had a darker side.
In the same year of its launch, a letter was sent by its manufacturers, outlining sodium valproate's potentially-devastating effects on pregnant women. That information was not passed on to the people who needed to hear it most. Whilst pregnant, the medication can cause life-altering problems for the development of unborn children - these include birth defects and lifelong learning difficulties. The scandal saw thousands of women take sodium valproate while expecting children. The sodium valproate scandal Last month, a report by the Patient Safety Commissioner found children “will never be able to live independent lives” after being exposed to the dru