About 50 years ago, more than 10,000 babies around the world were born with deformities caused by the drug Thalidomide. Pregnant women who suffered from morning sickness took this drug. Many of their babies were born with no arms or legs, or had other physical problems.
Today, a law court in Victoria, Australia, agreed that 100 Australian and New Zealand victims of Thalidomide should receive A$89million (NZ$99m) compensation from the Diageo company. Their company sold the drug. However, the company which made the drug, Grunenthal, will not pay anything although it did apologise last year.
Each Thalidomide survivor will receive a share of the money, depending on their disability. Many of these people were unable to work so have never had much money.
Vocabulary
- victim – someone who suffers because of the actions of other people
- deformity – not formed correctly
- (legal) drug – medicine
- compensation – money given after an injury or loss
- apologise – said sorry
- survivor – a person who is still alive after many other people have died from the same problem
- disability – a physical or intellectual problem which makes it difficult for someone to live a normal life