| What is the FDA? | | | | laborious approval process is blamed for delaying the |
| The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, is the | | | | release of potentially life-saving drugs and driving up |
| government agency responsible for testing and | | | | consumer prices due to a restricted supply. In |
| certifying the safety of a wide range of products. | | | | response to such criticism, legislation was passed |
| Food items, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, | | | | which authorized the FDA to release drugs for |
| veterinary products, and cosmetics are just a sample | | | | terminal patients at an earlier stage of the approval |
| of the things which the FDA regulates. Pharmaceutical | | | | process. |
| products, for example, have to go through a lengthy | | | | On the other hand, many people and organizations |
| approval process in which the FDA weighs a drug's | | | | feel that the FDA is actually failing to carry out its |
| potential benefits against its potential risks and | | | | regulatory duty. In their eyes, the FDA's regulations |
| decides whether or not to allow the drug on the | | | | and policies aren't stringent enough to protect the |
| public market. Thus, the FDA's job is to keep | | | | public from dangerous drugs and products. Advocates |
| dangerous and defective foods, medicines, and | | | | from this camp claim that the FDA is too heavily |
| cosmetics out of the hands of consumers. | | | | influenced by the political and financial clout of large |
| Criticisms of the FDA | | | | corporations. Furthermore, they are critical of |
| The FDA's sweeping authority and regulatory powers | | | | government budgets which fail to provide adequate |
| often make it the target of criticism and protest | | | | funds for FDA testing and regulatory programs. |
| from big business and consumer advocacy groups | | | | All in all, it is easy to see why FDA officials may find |
| alike. This controversy, spurred on from both sides | | | | it difficult to find a happy medium between these |
| by economists, lobbyists, legislators, advocates, | | | | two opposing camps. Unfortunately, when the FDA |
| interest groups, and ordinary citizens, shows little sign | | | | acts - or fails to act - in accordance with one view or |
| of resolution even today. | | | | the other, the consumers are the ones to suffer. If |
| On one side of the argument are those who believe | | | | regulations are too strict, important products may |
| that the FDA is an unnecessary hindrance. From this | | | | not reach the market in time; if they are too lax, |
| point of view, the FDA is the consummate red-tape | | | | dangerous substances may find their way into the |
| bureaucracy - slow, mindless, and unresponsive. Its | | | | hands of our children. |