Political Editor
BBC
“Who will look after our children when we’re no longer here? At the moment that’s nobody.”
Catherine Cox from Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, is among the thousands of women who took the epilepsy drug, sodium valproate, during pregnancy. This practice is now widely discouraged due to associated risks.
Her son Matthew, now 23, was born with a range of conditions, including autism, ADHD, epilepsy, and learning disabilities. At 18 months, he was diagnosed with fetal valproate syndrome, linking his health issues to his mother’s medication.
Esteemed health authorities have since warned against the use of sodium valproate during pregnancy unless it is the only safe option available, after careful discussion of the risks.
Before starting her fertility treatment, Mrs. Cox was advised it was safe to continue valproate. The news of her child’s condition was devastating.
Mounting Pressure on the Government
Since the 1970s, it is estimated that thousands of children in the UK have developed disabilities due to prenatal exposure to valproate.
Mrs. Cox has been an advocate for compensation for several years. “To learn that the medication I took in good faith caused my child lifelong problems is unbearable,” she told the BBC.
Mr. Cox can manage a job at a local bakery but heavily depends on his mother’s support. “It can be tough, but my love for my mum is my strength,” he mentioned.
A Governor’s Promise Unfulfilled
Mrs. Cox feels a sense of weariness due to the lack of government response. “We are not getting any younger. I started this when I was 31, and now I am 53,” she shared.
Her concerns echo those of many others. “It feels like the government wants parents to age out, so their children can’t fight for the compensation they deserve,” she relayed.
