Campaigners fighting for justice for victims of a cancer-linked pregnancy drug have met with Health Secretary Wes Streeting as they step up their bid to get a public inquiry into the scandal.
DES Justice UK has grown to more than 500 members since its launch in November and is seeking answers from the government around the use of the drug Diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic form of the female hormone oestrogen, commonly known as DES.
Approximately 300,000 women were prescribed what was believed to be a ‘wonder drug’ between 1938 and the late 1970s to prevent miscarriage and early labour, dry up breast milk and treat menopausal symptoms.
The group is made up of women who took the drug, but also their daughters, sons and granddaughters, who have suffered medical issues as a result such as infertility, reproductive abnormalities and increased risk of a rare cancer. The drug appears to pass on health issues through the generations.
Wes Streeting has already apologised to victims and admitted: “The state got it wrong.” But now campaigners are asking him to go further and launch a full statutory public inquiry to get the answers the victims need.
Clare Fletcher, partner at Broudie Jackson Canter, who represents DES Justice UK, said:
“We are delighted that Wes Streeting has kept his word and has met with us, but words will only go so far. This is one of the biggest pharmaceutical scandals this country has ever seen and we are demanding answers as to how this drug could have been prescribed to so many for so long.
“The only way to get the truth is with a statutory public inquiry and I hope Mr Streeting will give us the far reaching investigation this scandal needs. The fact is that this isn’t a historic injustice as women and men continue to suffer today. It is a national disgrace that victims have been ignored, disbelieved and humiliated when all they wanted was fair treatment. It is time that they finally received some justice.”
Campaigners are also calling for a full screening programme across the NHS to identify those who may be affected by DES and potentially susceptible to its horrific impact.
Susie Martin, who has had between 20 and 30 operations as a result of DES, is from DES Justice UK and met with the Health Secretary. She said:
“The impact of this terrible drug cannot be underestimated as it has ruined and devastated so many lives including my own. The physical and emotional pain has been unbearable. I always have this impending doom hanging over me that I will need further surgeries or develop cancer, and I am far from the only one. This has been the silent scandal for too long and I am grateful to my legal team that our voices are finally being heard. While I am pleased that Mr Streeting has met with us, it will only be significant if he actually pledges to do something for the victims of this shameful period in British medical history, including a screening programme and a full statutory public inquiry.”
While compensation schemes have been set up for DES victims in the USA and Netherlands, there has been nothing in the UK where many medical professionals are not even aware of complications caused by DES and NHS resources do not mention its existence. This means there could be thousands of people potentially affected who do not even know about DES and its side effects.
The group was formed after ITV News Social Affairs Correspondent Sarah Corker exposed the DES scandal in a year-long investigation.
If you believe you’ve or a loved one has been affected by DES you can register your interest in the DES Campaign UK here.