Bournemouth West MP Jessica Toale has brought together campaigners and politicians in Parliament to launch the DES Justice Campaign for women affected by a now-banned pregnancy drug linked to cancer and infertility.
More than fifteen women attended the Westminster launch on Tuesday, where they shared their experiences of being harmed by Diethylstilbestrol, known as DES. The drug was prescribed on the NHS from the 1940s to the 1980s to prevent miscarriage and stop breast milk production.
Research has since linked the drug to serious health problems for both the women who took it and their children. Studies suggest women given DES may have a higher risk of breast cancer, while their daughters face a much greater likelihood of rare reproductive cancers, infertility and premature birth.
The campaign calls for a public inquiry, targeted screening for those at risk, and compensation for victims. Other countries have introduced specific guidance and support for people affected, but the UK has yet to do so.
Jessica Toale MP said the women affected “deserve honesty, accountability and proper support” after decades of being ignored. She added that she will continue to stand alongside campaigners as they push for justice.
The launch follows an admission by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency that it had misled the public about when DES was withdrawn, with prescriptions continuing into the 1980s despite earlier claims it had been stopped in 1973.
Campaigners say this marks the start of a wider movement, with more meetings planned to build awareness and press for government action to uncover the truth about this long-running medical scandal.
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