How One Woman’s Courage Saved Thousands from Thalidomide Tragedy—and What We’ve Lost Since
Sixty-four years ago, a routine FDA review nearly paved the way for a devastating pregnancy medication to be approved across the United States. Thalidomide, a drug that had already caused a birth defect crisis in Europe, was on the brink of being sold to American women—until one dedicated public servant, Frances Kelsey, refused to back down. In 1960, thalidomide was the hottest sleeping pill in Europe. Marketed as completely safe for morning sickness, it was handed out freely, with the hope of easing pregnancy discomfort. Its manufacturer anticipated quick approval in the United States, and the application landed on Kelsey’s












