Frances Oldham Kelsey

FDA Consumer, March, 2001 by Linda Bren

Kelsey served on FDA's working group, formed in 1994, to develop and implement uniform standards of safety for clinical studies using thalidomide. "She provided this moral and scientific backbone to the group, given her previous experience with the drug," says Debra Birnkrant, MD, the working group's chairperson.

Kelsey knows that thalidomide can give relief to patients with leprosy and perhaps other diseases, but is concerned about its widespread use--particularly with the availability of Internet sales. "We need to take precautions," she says, "because people forget very soon."

--L.B.