Stightly antiquated? If anything the thalidomide has been used for even MORE footdragging. It currently takes nearly TEN YEARS to jump a new drug though the FDA's hoops. And like I said, the FDA forces the drug companies to pass over drugs that might save the lives of just 1000 people per year because it would drive them into bankrupcy.
On the other hand, put yourself in the position of the people who have to make these decisions.
Just look at the flack they've received due to the approval of certain weight loss drugs.
In fact, there are even some people urging the FDA to impose stricter restraints, especially in the cases of these "herbal" remedies and other, largely unregulated, drugs.
My only point is that this issue isn't quite as simplistic as the bumper sticker slogan: "THE FDA IS BAD!"
While I've been a frequent critic of some of the delays that have been imposed upon drug manufacturers, I don't think that the FDA is solely responsible for this problem.
The litigiousness of certain people also has to be taken into account.