The legacy of diethylstilbestrol (DES): A systemic failure and the fight for justice (14 July 2025)

Summary

On 11 April 2025, ITV News reported that more than 150 people had come forward following its investigation into a controversial anti-miscarriage drug: diethylstilbestrol (DES). As a result of this investigation, pressure is mounting on the Department of Health to intervene.

Layla Moran MP, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, issued a clear call for government action: “…whether it’s infected blood, thalidomide, or whatever it is—it would strike me that this would fit those criteria… the government should be looking at how they can start that process.”

The government’s response was swift. Health Minister Stephen Kinnock acknowledged the issue’s long-standing nature and the need for action and further investigation, stating:

“The Secretary of State has asked officials to report back… we will be bringing forward… proposals on how we might investigate it further. We will need to work on it rapidly… this has been an issue for a very long time.”

But does the government’s response go far enough? With no formal apology issued, no public inquiry launched, and no compensation scheme in place, many are questioning whether the response truly reflects the scale of harm caused by DES.

This article is written by Sharon Hartles, member of the Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative, The Open University, and member of the British Society of Criminology.