Everyone should enjoy a healthy life
There is a deep concern about the rising incidence of
illness in general and the failure to find cures for the major
diseases. For example, there are approximately 125,000 deaths
and 200,000 new cases of cancer registered each year in England
and Wales, bringing untold grief and suffering to whole families.
Adverse reactions to medical drugs
Despite decades of intensive research, iatrogenic diseases
are increasing. The number of reports to the Committee on
the Safety of Medicines of adverse reactions suffered from
medical drugs every year has been estimated to be only 10%
of the true total. On that basis the number of adverse reactions
is currently in the order of 200,000 per year, and rising,
in the UK alone. Many medicines are withdrawn annually because
of unpredicted side effects. The following are some examples
OPREN: Anti-arthritic drug. Withdrawn in
1982 after more than 70 deaths in Britain and 3,500 other
serious side effects, including damage to skin, eyes, circulation,
liver, kidneys.
CLIOQUINOL: Anti-diarrhoeal drug. Caused
30,000 cases of blindness and/or paralysis in Japan alone
and thousands of deaths worldwide. The drug caused a new disease
called SMON.
OSMOSIN: Anti-inflammatory drug. Withdrawn
in 1983 after 650 reported serious side effects and 20 deaths.
ERALDIN: Heart drug, given to patients for
four years before horrific side effects were identified, including
blindness, stomach problems, pains in joints and growths.
THALIDOMIDE: A sedative given to pregnant
women, caused approx 10,000 birth defects worldwide.
FLOSINT: Anti-inflammatory drug. Use resulted
in reports of 217 adverse effects including 7 deaths.
A Positive force for change
DLRM was established to inform the public of the shortcomings
and dangers of animal-based medical research and is part of
a growing global movement concerned with human health. We
urgently need to turn a critical eye to the whole question
of a valid research relevant to the promotion of public health.
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