Frances Oldham Kelsey, the anti-thalidomide Canadian doctor, died

Later, it was found that thalidomide – prescribed to pregnant women to ease morning sickness – was causing thousands of babies to be born with missing limbs or organs and many died. Along with being a full-time contributor to several well-known websites, she offers writing workshops twice a month to up-and-coming professionals. She has contributed to Capital Wired many times for the past few years.As a writer, Mariel has a passion for technology and how it interacts with the medical industry.

“I think she was an absolute hero”, said Alan Cassels, a University of Victoria drug researcher. Dr. Kelsey a novice examiner working for the U.S. FDA in the early 60s, insisted on obtaining hard evidence for the drug’s safety despite the company’s lobbying efforts for approval in the U.S.

“Kelsey helped shape and enforce amendments to FDA drug regulation laws to institutionalize protection of the patient in drug investigations”, says the website of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. “Her courage came from her strength of conviction and her knowledge of science”. Ontario’s Left-tenant Governor presented her the award in a private ceremony at her daughter’s home.

At least 10,000 babies in 46 countries were also born with severe deformities with some having arms and legs resembling those of a seal’s flippers.

She married her pharmacologist husband, Dr. F. Ellis Kelsey, in 1943 while at the University of Chicago, where she earned a doctorate in pharmacology and a medical degree.

While employed by the united states drug company within the 1960s she declined to agree it. She is survived by her two daughters, a sister, and two grandchildren. She was born in Vancouver Island and aged 101 now. But the important thing here which everyone should know is her opposition was recognized by the nation.