Man confident ahead of drug firm battle

A man born with deformed limbs has said he is “100% convinced” his abnormalities were caused by a pregnancy testing drug prescribed to his mother in the 1970s. Karl Murphy, 38, is due to find out next week whether he will be granted legal aid for a fresh challenge against drug firm Bayer after he recently found documents in his mother’s attic. The papers were left by German journalists in the 1970s who were investigating the effects of the Primodos drug. Mr Murphy’s mother had forgotten about the stored documents, which expressed concern about the damaging effects associated with the drug. Primodos was produced by Schering, a German manufacturer that was later taken over by Bayer. Mr Murphy, from Prescot, Merseyside, is launching the legal battle on behalf of an estimated 40 people who he believes were born with deformities as a result of the drug. He said: “I came across a file that was in my mother’s attic, which shows that the drug company was aware of the dangers this drug was causing. “It says the drug was causing deformities.” Mr Murphy has been in touch with solicitors since June 2009, but he feels the new evidence he found in December that year could force a fresh legal challenge. Campaigners attempted to take the drug company to court in 1982, but the action failed to get off the ground. However, Mr Murphy said the judge in the case said it could be re-opened if fresh evidence came to light. IBB Solicitors has built a reputation for quality of service in pursuing compensation in cases involving accident, illness or death, including negligence in dispensing medication. If you would like advice on personal injury issues, contact a member of IBB’s Personal Injury team: call us on 08456 381 381 or email enquiries@ibblaw.co.uk.