Drug safety – it might be an idea whose time has come
If the general public only knew…
The average guy on the street probably believes the FDA thoroughly scrutinizes each new drug before granting approval.
If only!
A new policy paper from The American College of Physicians points up a couple of glaring inadequacies in the drug approval process.
For instance, the paper suggests that packaging of newly approved drugs should be marked with a symbol “to increase public awareness that they are new.”
The average guy would not be aware of the hidden warning in this “new drug” symbol. It’s a warning that he’ll play a guinea pig role that may reveal unknown side effects.
The paper also calls for safety to be given the same priority as efficacy in considering a drug’s approval.
It’s stupefying that someone is making that suggestion in 2009, more than 70 years after the FDA was established.
Drug safety. Hmmm…that would be a good idea!
Source:
“Improving FDA Regulation of Prescription Drugs” American College of Physicians, Policy Monograph, 2009, acponline.org
