Posted on 01/05/2007 7:34:46 PM PST by cryptical
I just want to make sure I understand the point you make. Do you feel that the FDA causes "thousands if not more" American deaths because it does not approve drugs/procedures/equipment in a timely, judicious, fair, organized or uniform fashion?
I think I agree with you that it might be a good way to do it. I think it could only improve the process. And a lot more organs might be available. I like it.
yes, you've summarized my feelings correctly. I'm in favor of abolishing the agency.
FYI:
http://www.neoperspectives.com/fda_tyranny.htm
Okay, fair enough. Is it your belief that drugs, medical devices and medical procedures should be COMPLETELY unregulated?
yes. :)
Well, we're not talking about anarchy. Government exists to enforce contractual law. For example, if you sell someone something falsely claiming it does something or mislead in other ways, that is a breach of contract, just like any other area of commerce.
People make their own decisions to take risks every day. Medical research and organ donation shouldn't be any different. The government doesn't own the bodies of individual citizens. In a free country, each of us owns our own body and must have the final say as to what we do with it, whether or not compensation is involved.
We have a basic disagreement. I have worked in healthcare for 25 years and am familiar with many of the medical and ethical issues that could be interwoven into these scenarios.
I respect your right to disagree with me, based on your philosophical and life experiences, but I think you are wrong.
In medical research, agreeing to take part in a medical study is not the same as buying a bank of computers which one is told will meet a set of specifications. There are no guarantees.
When someone agrees to take part in a medical study, they are told how the study will be run as it relates to them, and what they are *likely* to experience, but when dealing with human beings, even the most innocuous study can conceivably cause injury or death either directly or from complications. If they KNEW what a given study was going to do, they wouldn't need to do the study, right?
People then base their decision on whether they will participate or not based on how much money they will get, how it might improve a condition they suffer from, how much time it will take, how much pain it might cause, and how it might possibly help other people who will benefit in the future from their status as a test subject.
The function of a bureaucracy such as the FDA is (or should be) that of a filter that will, on behalf of its constiturents who may not have the tools to appropriately do a risk/benefit analysis, weigh the overall risks and benefits of a given study/equipment/procedure, and give the structure for research and either a green light or red light to parties wishing to carry out the study and sell a product to make money.
As much as I dislike the FDA, and I agree completely with you that it is a bureaucracy (and like all bureaucracies, it can be mindless, stupid, incomprehensible, mindbogglingly slow and illogical, as well as petty, mean, full of itself and vindictive) it is a necessary evil. I would like to see something streamlined, well thought out, and absolutely oriented to doing what is best for the humans it is meant to protect, not all things the FDA or many other agencies are.
But like the military, which can have ALL of the negatives I described above, I feel that it or something like it is necessary in the world we live in.
Like I said, we are going to have to simply disagree on this. I don't have contempt for your viewpoint or dislike you, because I trust you have built your viewpoint on the foundation of your life's experiences, which are different from mine. I just feel very strongly and as it turns out...differently from you (and obviously some others) on this.
I just want to say I appreciate your civility in discussing this with me in a friendly, rational way. It is a highly emotionally charged issue for many people, and can be difficult to do. Heck, the first response to ME on this thread made me want to load all my 16 inch guns and fire a broadside. It can often be rewarding to do in forums like this where you don't meet people face to face, but...why be uncivil about it?
So...thanks.
I should have copied you as well on my response above. It applies equally to your comment to me...especially the last couple of paragraphs of my response...:)
well, I appreciate your civil response as well. I certainly understand the intentions of those who advocate for the existance and the FDA and other agencies, however, in my humble opinion, the results of this regulation and the setup of the current system have been disasterous. There is a compilation of stories in the previosly posted link that offer examples of my viewpoint.
take care :)
Right on...
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