TV tonight: a stirring documentary about two mothers taking on Big Pharma
BBC Two will air 'Mums v Big Pharma' at 9pm tonight, featuring two mothers who campaigned against pharmaceutical giant over epilepsy drug sodium valproate.
The documentary explores the damage done to generations of children by sodium valproate, a drug licensed for epilepsy prescription despite concerns that arose after testing. Janet Williams and Emma Murphy refused to be deterred by official inertia and outright scorn in their campaign against the pharmaceutical industry.
Campaign Against Inertia
The film portrays the mothers' robust lack of self-pity, making the story stirring rather than dispiriting. Their personal stories highlight the human cost of pharmaceutical oversight failures and the challenges faced by those seeking accountability.
At the heart of the story are Janet Williams and Emma Murphy, two mothers who refused to be deterred by official inertia (and, at times, outright scorn) and whose robust lack of self-pity makes this film stirring rather than dispiriting.
Broader Context
The documentary represents part of BBC Two's current programming focus on socially conscious content, airing alongside other thought-provoking shows like 'Fire and Floods: Our Extreme Weather' on BBC One at 8pm.
Related
