Hans-Rudolf Wiedemann (February 16, 1915 - August 4, 2006) was a German pediatrician, University teacher, and autograph collector.
[3] As director of the Krefeld Children's Hospital, Wiedemann was one of the first to recognise the fatal side effects of thalidomide.
While initially considered safe, thalidomide was responsible for teratogenic deformities in children born after their mothers used it during pregnancies, prior to the third trimester.
In November 1961, thalidomide was taken off the market due to massive pressure from the press and public.
[10] Wiedemann collected and wrote several books about autographs with his wife Gisela von Sybel.