Talk:Frances Oldham Kelsey

School Timeline Inconsistency
The first two sentences of the Birth and Education section currently read "Born in Cobble Hill, British Columbia,[3] Kelsey attended St. Margaret's School from 1928 - 1931 in the provincial capital, graduating at age 15.[4] From 1930–1931, she attended Victoria College (now University of Victoria)."

The dates given for her attendance and graduation from St. Margaret's contradict other information in the article. Since Frances was born in 1914, a graduation at age 15 could not have occurred in 1931. Instead, it would have been in 1929 or, at the latest, 1930. Additionally, per the current dates in the article, she would have been attending St. Margaret's and Victoria College simultaneously from 1930-1931. My best guess is she attended St. Margaret's from 1928-1930 (rather than 1928-1931), since that single change would be consistent/compatible with the rest of the current information in the article. However, it is also possible that her graduation age or attendance years at Victoria College are incorrect. Without more information, I cannot say for sure. Poemisaglock (talk) 00:51, 23 May 2021 (UTC)

According to the graphic in this TED Ed video (around 25 seconds in), Frances graduated from St. Margaret's in 1929. The date is actually "moved" in the video by the animated character which represents her in order to highlight that she graduated at an early age. Pretty cute. I'm not going to unilaterally make the decision to edit the article, but here is the video if someone else thinks my suggested changes and source are appropriate: https://www.lisalabra.com/TED-Ed-Frances-Kelsey Poemisaglock (talk) 01:28, 23 May 2021 (UTC)

Rewrite
I rewrote this article after looking up information on thalimide. It is pretty choppy - needs a more consistent style and smoother transitions. Should have enough references for a living person now. Trödel 07:02, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I'm happy with it now - removing the copyedit notice Trödel  02:10, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

The paragraph under Birth and Education refers to her twice as Oldham, and twice as Kelsey, all before her marriage to Dr. Fremont Ellis Kelsey. I'm not sure of the correct style for using a woman's maiden and married names in a biographical article like this (or I would correct it myself), but I'm certain that consistency in choosing one name or the other should be followed. --J5cochran (talk) 06:17, 19 May 2015 (UTC)

Good Article Nomination
I nominated this article as a "Good Article" - please comment on any objections or suggestions here. Trödel 02:14, 3 May 2006 (UTC)
 * promoted well done to all editors Gnangarra 13:56, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

Additional Info
Dr Kelsey was born July 24 1914 not June 24 1914 please allow me to make the correction and stop reverting to the incorrect birthdate. MrAndreae (talk) 02:06, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

I have found some evidence of additional awards in 1962 from women's organizations - making a note of it here since I am on a self imposed wikipedia slowdown for a few days to a week Trödel  02:19, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

"The worldwide thalidomide tragedy changed the way drugs are developed, tested and regulated in the United States, significantly broadening FDA authority (3). Dr. Kelsey often is credited with sealing the FDA’s reputation as the world’s premier authority on food and drug safety."

Kelsey's delay reasons

 * "... Peripheral neuritis is a form of nerve damage. Patients using Thalidomide are advised to immediately stop taking Thalidomide and contact their doctor if they experience the first symptoms associated with nerve damage which include burning, numbness, or tingling of the arms, hands, legs, or feet. ... It was concern over reports of this side effect that led to Dr. Kelsey’s delay of the original Thalidomide application for licensing in the United States."
 * "The FDA official given charge of the case was one Dr Frances Oldham Kelsey, who was so officiously nitpicking as to query, for example, the fact that the drug when given to animals had failed to make them sleepy!"

Unused References
Critical of Kelsey's efforts
 * . Lists reasons why Kelsey refused to approve.
 * . Lists reasons why Kelsey refused to approve.
 * . Lists reasons why Kelsey refused to approve.
 * . Lists reasons why Kelsey refused to approve.

Collateral References
May have info on Kelsey
 * Mintz, Morton (1965) The therapeutic nightmare; a report on the roles of the United States Food and Drug Administration, the American Medical Association, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and others in connection with the irrational and massive use of prescription drugs that may be worthless, injurious, or even lethal. Boston, Houghton Mifflin. LOC HD9666.6 .M55, Dewey 338.4761519.Library of Congress catalog entry
 * McFadyen, R.E. (1976). Thalidomide in America: A Brush With Tragedy. Clio Medica, 11, (2), 79-93.
 * Mulliken, J. (August 10, 1962). A Woman Doctor Who Would Not be Hurried. Life Magazine, 53, 28-9. Call# AP2 .L547
 * Young, J.H. (1983). Sulfanilamide and Diethylene Glycol. In J. Parascandola and J.C. Whorton (Eds.), Chemistry and Modern Society: Historical Essays in Honor of Aaron J. Ihde (pp. 105 -125). Washington D.C.: American Chemical Society.
 * Google Scholar on Kelsey
 * Arthur Daemmrich, Georg Krücken. RISK VERSUS RISK: Decision-making Dilemmas of Drug Regulation in the United States and Germany abstract
 * A Brief History of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research fda.gov

Another source
Google Book Search has a whole copy of an old Life Magazine coverstory on the Thalidamide tragedy and Dr. Kelsey. You can find the article here. It looks like it might have a lot of good information to incorporate into the article. Remember (talk) 21:23, 1 October 2009 (UTC)

Incorrect word
Under the section "Birth and Education", a sentence reads as follows: "Geiling assumed that Frances was a man, but Frances accepted the position rather than clarifying her gender first,[3] and began working for Geiling in 1936." The word "gender" should be changed to "sex". Sex refers to the biological form of a female/woman, whereas gender refers to the characteristics of femininity or masculinity. I corrected this sentence this morning, but it was changed back. The footnote supports this when it states, "Kelsey asked her professor at McGill if she should wire back and explain that Frances with an 'e' is female...Bren (2006)." Kelsey didn't clarify that she was a female (sex), not feminine (gender). Clarifying her sex would entail saying, "I'm a female/woman". Clarifying her gender would entail saying, "I'm feminine". Gender is simply not the correct word to use. Please accept this correction. Someone stated, "sex reads too awkward...". It doesn't matter how you "think" it reads, gender is simply not the correct word. Get your mind out of the gutter and stick with the correct facts, please. Thank you. (69.140.54.3 (talk) 01:02, 13 October 2012 (UTC))


 * Sex or gender is equally correct - her biology wasn't really in question, it was any sort of femininity. She's a cisgender individual, so stating that her "gender" is female rather than male isn't really all that different from saying her "sex" is female (both are accurate).  Is there any evidence that Dr. Kelsey identified as anything but female?  She identified as "Dr." not "Ms." to be sure, but that's not the question at hand.  Whether she dodged sexism by confusion over her sex or her gender is kind of a moot point, so the article is free to use the equally accurate term that's less likely to be misunderstood.  73.19.23.200 (talk) 16:22, 8 August 2015 (UTC)

Pre Natal Flouride
I added the bit about prenatal fluoride as an example of how the 1962 law can cut both ways. Ray — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pawpawseed66 (talk • contribs) 19:17, 13 August 2015 (UTC)
 * That would be appropriate for the article on the law. However, her only relationship to the law is that the thalidomide episode created an environment that helped the law get passed. -- Trödel 20:01, 13 August 2015 (UTC)

Dr. Kelsey absolutely worked on the law and tried to keep it from being used against prenatal fluoride. In her Library of Congress papers, box 19, there is a letter she was drafting to a Mr. Lear specifically about the FDA and fluoride-vitamin products. She says, "... Prior to the 1962 amendments ... [the F products] were not considered new drugs ...". The letter has two versions of how to say they now are, and she scratched out the harsher one saying the makers would have to come up with new information (meaning expensive clinical trials which she knew would kill the products). I will be glad to send the letter to you or others to review. Pawpawseed66 (talk) 20:26, 13 August 2015 (UTC)

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