The FDA does what?
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Billy Howard
A medical situation several years ago, resulting with me making an unexpected late-night dash to one of the local hospital emergency rooms, prompted inquiry as to what actual administrative duties are exercised by the FDA (Federal Food and Drug Administration). In short, that particular experience had entailed medications being administered with no indication of the adverse side effects. Realization of the resulting consequences hours after returning home, manifested serious questions as to how the medication could have ever been allowed on the market as the side effects proved more damaging than the issue being treated.
Similarly, I had a recent conversation with an acquaintance regarding a weight-loss drug the doctor prescribed, given her desire to lose fifteen to twenty pounds. She reported having been taking the medicine as directed for roughly eight weeks. The side effects, according to her, had been the cause of two visits to the hospital in as many months. When told of the problematic conditions brought on by the nationally recognized medication, it amazed me that more people hadn’t called attention to the matter.
Curiosity eventually got the better of me so I consulted the “knowledgeable of all things” internet to learn more about the product in question. Plainly listed on the web were the “possible side effects” such as Nausea, Diarrhea, Stomach (abdominal) pain, vomiting, and constipation, just to name a few. As if that wasn’t bad enough, there was actually a completely different “may cause serious side effects that include: Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. [Product] and medicines that work like [Product] caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if [Product] will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people. The listing went further to state use of the product “may cause serious side effects, including: inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis), changes in vision, low blood sugar, dehydration leading to serious kidney problems, severe stomach problems, and serious allergic reactions, and gallbladder problems. This could be accompanied by pain in your upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.”
After the exhausting list of possible side effects and potentially resulting conditions, it was difficult to see why anyone in their right mind would ever even consider ingesting this medication. In fact, as a doctor sworn to the Hippocratic Oath, it would seem emblematic of criminal behavior for any medical professional to recommend the drug to a patient.
Also discovered was the fact the FDA has long-enlisted the practice of no longer confirming that a drug is “FDA Approved.” Instead, what the administration will do is simply accept the application and sit on it to the point the applicant eventually contacts them to inquire about the status. At that juncture, officials will, reportedly, pass off accountability by “suggesting” since it had been so long, the product could effectively be considered safe. What this does is imply confirmation without holding the FDA’s feet to the fire as the product never received the official “FDA Approved” stamp of endorsement.
This is just another way of absolving the Administration of any binding legal liability so as to cover their proverbial behinds in the event of legal action in the wake of unforeseen occurrences. I could be wrong but it’s just something to consider.
You can reach Howard at bg@authorbghoward.com.
