Since Sunday 22nd January 2012, there has been an unprecedented flurry of media attention on DES related health issues in the United Kingdom. This comes after two journalists – Sarah Morrison and Jaymi McCann – thoroughly investigated DES issues in the UK and published an exclusive DES report in the Independent on Sunday: “Thousands of women could be at risk from silent Thalidomide“. Very quickly ripple effects started and the story spread not only throughout the country but as far as the U.S. and Australia. Many newspapers and websites caught up on the story thus increasing DES awareness locally and nationally and forcing UK health websites to update their DES information.
“Silent Thalidomide” the Secret Killer – Ten of thousands of British women in pregnancy drug scare – Exclusive Report
Independent on Sunday – Jan 22, 2012 : “Thousands of women could be at risk from silent Thalidomide”
Daily Mail – Jan 22, 2012 : ‘Silent Thalidomide’: Thousands of mothers and their daughters at risk of cancer from anti-miscarriage drugs they took decades ago
Lifestyle AOl – Jan 22, 2012 : “Anti-miscarriage drug could cause cancer in daughters of women who took it decades ago”
Yorkshire Post – Jan 23, 2012 : “Call for compensation over pregnancy drug “
Press Association ( UKPA) – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters'”
Once the story was published by the UK Press Association it started to spread all over the country, here are a few websites where it was re-published:
London Evening Standard – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters'”
Yahoo News – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Topix, Local News Bristol – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
The Bucks Herald – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Fenland Citizen – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Crawley and Horley Observer – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Pendle Today – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Harvill Echo – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Boston Standard – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Buckingham Today – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Leigh Reporter – Jan 22, 2012: “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Halifax Courier, the Voice of Calderdale – Jan 22, 2012: “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Selby Times – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Peterborough Today – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Newmarket Journal – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Scaborough Evening News – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Hastings & St Leonards Observer – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Hemel Today – Jan 27, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Isle of Man Examiner – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Sussex Express – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
IC Newcastle – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Diss Express – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
News Post Leader – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Guardian – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Fleetwood Weekly News – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Suffolk Free Press – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Thame Gazette – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
Pocklington Post – Jan 22, 2012 : “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters”
………………………. The list continues endlessly to cover 16 Google Search Pages. Enter “Lawyer hunts for UK ‘DES daughters” in your Google Search Box for the full list. Jaymi McCann’s report in the Independent on Sunday truly created ripples, waves, or should I say rather a tsunami in the UK Press.
I am thrilled that the work my husband and I have been doing over the past year or so to raise DES awareness in the UK via our Social Media networks is paying off. As far as I know when Jaymi McCann stumbled upon my “Journal of a DES daughter” she knew little about DES but my story and the information featured in my blog was enough to spark her interest. I can’t thank her enough for the extraordinary work she and Sarah Morrison have done to pull this excellent report together. I am grateful for the opportunity they’ve given me to share my DES story to such a large audience and for the repercussions the report will have for DES daughters and hopefully also DES sons and DES grandchildren in the UK . Now the UK government and the NHS must react, launch an national awareness campaign and ensure DES victims in the UK receive appropriate care and monitoring. Let’s keep the pressure on …
More DES DiEthylStilbestrol Resources
- DES studies on cancers and screening.
- DES studies on epigenetics and transgenerational effects.
- DES studies on fertility and pregnancy.
- DES studies on gender identity and psychological health.
- DES studies on in-utero exposure to DES and side-effects.
- DES studies on the genital tract.
- Papers on DES lawsuits.
- DES videos and posts tagged DES, the DES-exposed, DES victims.
It’s about time you in the UK did something. You’ll have far more cases than we had in Australia. I’ve been at the forefront on the medical side trying to raise the consciousness of my colleagues. I am one of the local gynæcological “experts” on DES.
I too would like to thank Jaymi McCann and Sarah Morrison for their reporting but I fear we may be forgotten again. When David Blunkett promised 18 years ago that the NHS would make special arrangements for DES exposed daughters and sons nothing was done. I have spent years trying to make doctors aware but am fobbed off as a paranoid individual. Watching my two lovely daughters go down the same health route with the same professional ignorance is unbelievable with what could be disastrous results.
Bravo! So glad to see that someone finally took your fight to the mainstream media. Well done – and many thanks from all of us who could never get a doctor to take our concerns seriously!
How would victims of these tragic circumstances in DES/PRIMODOS ever reveal the horrors of these drugs to human life, if it were not for the media champion our cause for the truth and justice. Well done to you all, we need you. Founder member of Primodos 1976
Thanks Valerie – Your kind words are really appreciated. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead – One of our favorite quotes