Can You Really Trust the FDA to Protect You From Harm?

[Guest guest]

http://www.mercola.com/2005/jan/15/fda_protection.htm

 

Can You Really Trust the FDA to Protect You From Harm?

 

 

Many Americans find it difficult to rely on the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) to protect them from harmful drugs and

medications. Those who have used pills for pain relief they believed

to be safe admit that their faith in the system intended to protect

them has been corrupted.

 

One woman stopped taking painkillers Vioxx, Celebrex and Aleve due to

their cardiovascular-related side effects. She stated, " Now I just

don't trust the Food and Drug Administration anymore. "

 

While some doctors feel their patients may be " overreacting, "

psychologists who study how people evaluate risks say the widespread

anxiety, raft of lawsuits and feelings of unbroken trust are indeed

justifiable. Not to mention, the continual bad news from drug

companies and federal health officials has only fueled the fire.

 

Controlling the Public's Health

 

*

 

What has outraged people most is that the FDA has been accused

of concealing vital information regarding previously approved drugs.

For example, it has been suggested that the FDA first learned about

the dangers associated with taking Vioxx several years ago, long

before the drug was pulled from the market.

*

 

In addition, when people learned of the flu shortage and the

urged restrictions placed on who could be immunized, many (some of

whom had never gotten a flu shot before) clamored to get a dose. Now,

with the restrictions eased and an abundance of doses available, no

one wants the vaccine anymore.

 

In light of these issues, the executive director of the Harvard Center

for Risk Analysis explained, " When it means that someone else is

controlling whether or not I may be in danger, whether it's not

letting me have the flu shot or not telling me about the potential

risks of these medications, then people will react in ways that can

seem out of proportion to the actual risk. "

 

Moreover, people tend to react more intensely if they believe they are

being harmed or put at risk by the very person or thing meant to

protect them.

 

Spartanburg Herald-Journal December 28, 2004

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

I previously posted a blog entry that reported on the drug company's

declining business model and its attempts to ward off bad news about

the toxic drugs they sell by:

 

* Launching aggressive marketing campaigns

* Imposing large price hikes

* Extending patents on existing drugs

 

That's in addition to the " bad press " the FDA has sustained for

approving them.

 

Based on comments made by consumers and medical experts alike, many

more people who once trusted conventional medicine are beginning to

notice the same cracks in the foundation as do regular readers of my

semi-weekly newsletter and daily blog. Just more reasons accumulating

by the day why I remain so motivated to realize my vision to

facilitate the transformation of the existing medical paradigm.

 

You see, the system is crumbling before our eyes. Our country simply

cannot afford this approach much longer.

 

And here's the kicker: Physicians are in fact the leading cause of

death in this country. Not heart disease, not cancer--doctors. Of

course, physicians are well intentioned, just not informed. They do

not realize that the primary influence in the entire system is the

drug companies that have earnings of half a trillion dollars every year.

 

Thus, I encourage you to join me in my quest to transform the medical

paradigm to one that is sincerely dedicated to listening to the

patients' concerns and expressing commitment to their health and

well-being.

 

So if you want to take a giant step toward better health for you and

your family, without the burden of relying on drugs or the FDA to

protect you from them, then consider my book, Total Health Program if

you haven't already read it. This how-to book goes into great detail

about the proven health strategies that you can use to accelerate away

from reliance with the drug companies.

 

Related Articles:

 

FDA is " Virtually Incapable of Protecting You From Unsafe Drugs "

 

U.S. Health Care System No Longer `World's Best'

 

Drug Companies Still Make Bundle Even When They Admit They Lie

 

Modern Health Care System is the Leading Cause of Death

 

U.S. Spends More on Health Care but Gets Little in Return