I believe the whole system is a corrupt sham. http://www.naturalnews.com/030209_placebo_medical_fraud.html. Even expiration dates on prescription and OTC medications are false/inaccurate.
Most of the potential side-effects of a lot of prescription drugs are much worse than what they are supposed to cure. Makes me wonder how a lot of these drugs are ever approved. That being said, there are millions of people whose lives are vastly improved by prescription drugs.