Pregnant women who used the epilepsy drug sodium valproate and state they were not informed of possible birth defects are experiencing a mix of "guilt" and "anger," according to one mother.
Sodium valproate, also prescribed for bipolar disorder, can lead to physical harm in the womb, with children potentially born with conditions such as cleft palate and spina bifida, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders. The medicine now includes warnings regarding its use during pregnancy.
Susan Jamison, 60, said she was not told about the potential consequences when she was pregnant in the 1990s. Her children were born with symptoms of foetal valproate syndrome, with her daughter Anna having autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, and bone pain.
A 2020 review recommended compensation for those affected, and a subsequent 2024 report highlighted an "urgent" need for redress. However, six years after the initial report, families are still waiting for this redress.
Dr Henrietta Hughes, England's first patient safety commissioner, wrote to then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in June, expressing disappointment over the lack of a "substantive response" to calls for redress. She had not received a response by her 16 July deadline.