Thalidomide: The Drug RegulationHow one doctor's refusal averted a national tragedy.

From the show

Rules Written in Blood

One person's skepticism can be the difference between safety and catastrophe. In the late 1950s, a drug marketed for morning sickness was causing thousands of birth defects globally. But in the U.S., a single FDA officer's refusal to approve it averted a crisis. This close call led to a complete overhaul of drug approval laws, establishing the strict safety and efficacy standards we rely on today. It's a powerful reminder of how regulations are often written in the aftermath of near-disasters.