Can we do more to address long-term harms of medicine use? Learning from the DES (diethylstilboestrol) disaster

The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) podcast has relaunched with a new host, Dr Hannah Harris, DTB’s Clinical Editor, and a refreshed format designed to bring listeners closer to the people and evidence behind the journal.

The latest episode, When medicines cause harm: learning from the DES disaster, opens with two powerful interviews exploring the history and continuing consequences of diethylstilbestrol (DES).

Hannah speaks to Professor Barbara Mintzes, co-author of a recent DTB editorial, and Carol Devine, a patient advocate and second-generation DES victim. Together, they examine how DES continued to be prescribed to prevent miscarriage despite evidence that it was ineffective, and discuss the systemic failures, lack of transparency and institutional responses that allowed harm to continue.

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The conversation also explores the long-term and transgenerational effects experienced by people exposed to DES and their families, highlighting the importance of listening to patients and learning from past failures in medicines regulation and safety.

The relaunched podcast also introduces a new structure, combining in-depth interviews with a round-up of key articles and practical clinical updates from the latest issue of DTB.

For more than 60 years, DTB has provided independent, evidence-based information to support safer and more effective use of medicines. The refreshed podcast offers another way for health professionals to engage with its analysis, commentary and clinical guidance.

For more than 60 years, DTB has provided independent, evidence based information to support safer and more effective use of medicines. The refreshed podcast offers another way for health professionals to engage with its analysis, commentary and clinical guidance.