Every 200th German Baby “Deformed By

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29894, 7 August 1962, Page 6

Every 200th German Baby “Deformed By

(KZ. Prtss Assn.—CopiihptiM s BOKN. August 6. Every two hundredth baby born in Germany last year was deformed because the mother had taken thalidomide, according to Professor Widimund Lenz, head of the.children’s department at Hamburg University Clinic.

He said today that before the drug appeared on the market about one in every 50.000 babies was deformed. British United Press reported. Thalidomide was developed in Germany in 1957 and marketed under a trade name He said he made an exhaustive investigation into the sharp increase in births of deformed babies and that four out of every five mothers he questioned had said they took the drug during pregnancy. •’The deformities do not affect the nervous system," he went on. “Up to now the deformed children have shown no mental disorders." Professor Lenz said it had been impossible to find another cause for the deformities. In Sweden Tired and weary-eyed. Mrs Sherri Finkbine arrived in Sweden today to seek the abortion denied her in

America of the baby she fears be deformed by thalidomide. “I am. hoping and praying that the Swedish medical men will be able to help me quickly." said Mrs Finktine . an attractive 30-veair-old brunette. She and her husband announced they would see a Swedish doctor tomorrow in the-first step of a complicated procedure to obtain medical sanction to end her pregnancy of nearly three months. “We know there is no 100 per eent. certainty of being granted an abortion here but at feast we thing we will get a fair judgment on reasonable medical, and not moral grounds.” she said. Arizona courts refused the Finkbines’ appeal for a legal abortion, saying the only grounds on which it could be granted would be if the mother’s life were in danger. Sweden permits abortions

in certain conditions. The Royal Medical Board has authorised seven women who took thalidomide to hgt-e abortions. Some medical sources said the Finkbines must expect to Stay for at least two weeks. Her American doctor has been quoted as saying that a caesarean section might be necessary if she carried the child beyond today. The famed Caroline Hospital in Stockholm is expected to handle her case. After investigation their doctors will send a recommendation to the medical board which will make the final ruling.