Professor Richard Smithells

Professor Smithells, who died on 13 Jun 02, was the much respected paediatrician involved in the thalidomide children s claim for compensation and thereafter with the Thalidomide Trust. Mr. Gerard Wright Q.C., who won their claim in court, recalls that when individual claims of damage from the drug were in doubt, Richard Smithell's assessments were accepted by both sides.

Another part of his work must have save many lives, and prevented much damage. The Times (13 Aug 02) recorded his research into links between poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency and conditions such as spina bifida and other malformations of the spine and brain. "His studies and a series of publications demonstrated the importance of vitamin supplements in the prevention of these conditions." He received the Kennedy Foundation International Award for this work in 2000.

His results were queried for many years by the Dept. of Health, which preferred search-and-destroy methods for preventing the birth of children with spina bifida.

SPUC News of 13 Sept 02 reports a Canadian study as showing that between 1995 and 1999 the number of unborn children aborted on account of neural tube defects decreased by 43 %.