- Title: Happy Birthday Thalidomide
- Date: 1st April 2004
- Summary: Thalidomide, one of the most notorious drugs in recent history, is 50 years old in 2004. The drug was withdrawn in Britain in 1961, but its legacy lives on in the form of the 455 people born as Thalidomide babies. But in Brazil, a new generation of Thalidomide babies was born, and may still be being born. Actor Mat Fraser, himself a Thalidomider, looks at the controversial history of the drug, and travels to Brazil to learn why it is still being prescribed to this day. It's a powerful, emotional and often infuriating journey for Mat as he encounters everything from compassion to indifference to greed in his search for answers about the drug that, astonishingly, may be about to make a remarkable comeback to the medical counters in Britain.
- Description:A one-hour documentary presented by channel 4 "face" and thalidomide victim Mat Fraser,"celebrating " the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the drug which changed his life. 50 years on from the birth of this once-lauded wonder drug,Mat explores its chequered history. He will travel to Brazil,where thalidomide is still prescribed to people with skin conditions,to meet children who have been born recently with short arms,just like him.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:Maverick Television Ltd.
- Programme Episode:Episode 1
- Transmission Date:01/04/2004
- Rights:UK and Eire
- Decade: 2000s