The INFACT national campaign to expose the truth about Sodium Valproate and its devastating impact on generations of families has captured the attention of the media for over a decade. Thanks to the tireless efforts of mothers and fathers of those affected what began as a grassroots fight for justice has become a powerful, ongoing national conversation.
What Is Sodium Valproate?
Sodium Valproate (brand name Epilim in the UK) is an anticonvulsant and mood stabiliser first licensed in 1974. It is used to manage epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and migraines. Despite its medical benefits, it has serious teratogenic effects when taken during pregnancy, including:
- Congenital malformations
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Autism spectrum conditions
- Learning disabilities
- Physical impairments and sensory deficits
Without clear warnings, many pregnant women were unaware of these risks.
Why This Is Worse Than Thalidomide?
While Thalidomide caused birth defects in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Sodium Valproate scandal is different, and arguably more scandalous because:
- The risk was documented early: As far back as 1973, the manufacturer alerted regulators to potential fetal harm in animal studies thetimes.co.uk+3theguardian.com+3ehn.org+3en.wikipedia.org+2theguardian.com+2gov.uk+2boltburdonkemp.co.uk+2news.sky.com+2itv.com+2.
- Regulatory suppression: The Committee on Safety of Medicines explicitly decided not to include warnings on patient leaflets, fearing it “could give rise to fruitless anxiety” theguardian.com+2news.sky.com+2theguardian.com+2.
- Silence continued through the 1980s: Even as birth defects mounted, the Department of Health actively resisted requiring warnings in drug packaging well into the 1990s .
- Regulatory Inaction – Despite the knowledge at liscensing, and the emerging clinical date, NO regulatory action was taken until 2016
This wasn’t oversight – it was deliberate.
Despite this, prescribing remained widespread without effective communication of risks.
Through television documentaries, radio interviews, investigative podcasts, national newspapers, and online features, the lived experiences of families affected by Fetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder have been brought into the public eye. These appearances have not only helped raise awareness but have also held powerful institutions to account and pushed for real change at the highest levels.
From BBC Panorama’s landmark “Pills in Pregnancy” to The News Agents with Lewis Goodall, regional broadcasts like BBC Inside Out, and thought-provoking features such as Channel 4’s “Are Women the Fitter Sex?”, INFACT has never stopped pushing the truth into the spotlight. This section highlights just some of the powerful moments where our voices have reached the nation – and the world.
📺 Key Media Appearances
- BBC Panorama – “Pills in Pregnancy”
A landmark investigation that exposed the full scale of the Sodium Valproate scandal, shining a national spotlight on decades of avoidable harm and institutional failure.
- BBC Inside Out (Produced by Zack Adesina)
A deeply personal and moving regional programme that brought the stories of affected families to a wider audience. Zack Adesina’s compassionate storytelling helped humanise a national crisis.
- The News Agents – Interview with Lewis Goodall
A powerful podcast episode featuring Janet Williams, Patient Safety Commissioner Dr Henrietta Hughes, Shaun Lintern Health Editor at The Sunday Times, Martin Stanford, discussing the systemic failures behind the scandal and the urgent need for justice and accountability. This helped bring the story to a broad and politically engaged audience.
- Channel 4 – “Are Women the Fitter Sex?”
A thought-provoking programme that examined gender disparities in healthcare, featuring the campaign as a striking example of how women have been repeatedly dismissed, ignored, and harmed.
- The Sunday Times Investigations
Years of hard-hitting journalism by Health Editor Shaun Lintern, relentlessly exposing government inaction and regulatory failure, and giving voice to the families at the heart of this scandal.
The Sunday Times are supporting INFACTs call for Compensation
The Sunday Times – A Scandal Worse Than Thalidomide
“Doctors knew in 1973 that the epilepsy drug sodium valproate posed a risk to unborn children — and ordered that warnings be removed from packets. Almost 50 years and 20,000 disabled babies later, it is still being prescribed to pregnant women”
The Sunday Times – I trusted the NHS Drs, but the pills harmed my baby
“Mothers of children born with physical and mental problems after being prescribed epilepsy drug ask: why did nobody warn us?“
The Sunday Times – Inquiry Into The Use of Drug for Epilepsy
The medicines regulator has launched a review into use of the epilepsy drug sodium valproate, which is still being prescribed to women without warnings of dangers it poses.
The Sunday Times – Epilepsy drug that harms babies, may harm their babies too
“An epilepsy drug that caused disabilities in thousands of babies after being prescribed to pregnant women could be more dangerous than previously thought.
Sodium valproate could be triggering genetic changes that mean disabilities are being passed on to second and even third generations, according to the UK’s medicines regulator.”
Podcast with Shaun Lintern and the Sunday Times
- ITV / BBC News Reports
Ongoing national and regional coverage following the campaign’s milestones—from parliamentary debates to healthcare reforms—helping keep pressure on decision-makers.
- Sky News Interviews
National broadcasts with Emma Murphy and Janet Williams, powerfully spotlighting their journey, the scale of the harm, and the continuing fight for justice.
- BBC Radio 4 – Woman’s Hour
A moving broadcast that gave space for the emotional and practical realities of being a parent, carer, and advocate after preventable medical harm with Catherine Cox.
Newsnight – Victoria Derbyshire
💬 Why Media Coverage Matters
For families affected by Sodium Valproate, being heard in the media isn’t just about awareness, it’s about truth, dignity, and justice. These appearances validate our pain, amplify our voices, and expose the failures that caused so much avoidable harm.
The media has been a vital partner in this campaign. It has helped turn personal suffering into public action, silence into soundbites, and isolation into national solidarity.
Our stories have made headlines. Our voices have reached Parliament. And together, we will keep speaking out until justice is truly done.
We thank all the families for bravely telling your story.
Sky: Valproate Risk hidden from pregnant women fo decades
Sky: Epilepsy Drug Valproate behind thousands of severe birth defects, says French study
Sky News Expose – Sodium Valproate 43 year Government Cover Up
BBC – Epilepsy drug’s safety reviewed over pregnancy risk
Channel 4 – Are Women The Fitter Sex?
🗞 Media & Press
We welcome media enquiries and are passionate about raising awareness of the Sodium Valproate scandal, the work of our charity, and the lived experiences of families affected.
For interviews, press releases, or to speak directly with one of our co-founders, please email: Office.infactuk@gmail.com
Copyright Emma Murphy, Janet Williams – Independent Fetal Anti Convulsant Trust
INFACT 