Time to change the FDA?

[Phatose]

That's great....except for, you know, the million and one drugs sold to cure non-lethal ailments which could kill you. Oh, and the whole food part of the Food and drug administration. I certainly want more rat in my meat.

[Blodrast]

I agree with the fact that we shouldn't just give power to the government and let them do the thinking and decisions for us, in those fields that are not supposed to be their domain.

However, I don't think it's all black or white in this particular issue, especially with the complicated situation with drugs that exists in the US.
In _theory_, if it could be applied just like people claim they want it to be applied, i.e. give dying people not-approved-yet medication, experimental drugs, marijuana or what have you, sure, that would be great.
In _practice_, we must be aware that a bunch of companies and smugglers will find loopholes and whatnot and will do the same things they are doing right now, but legally. It would be a fantasy to believe that businesses worth probably billions of dollars would simply ignore the chance to go legit and escape all the legal hassle - I'm sure they would be able to find loopholes in whatever laws may be passed...

The author of the article of course uses a different set of arguments, but I believe he is deliberately ignoring some aspects of reality to make his point. Oh well.

[bmolsson]

I thought all Americans bought their drugs in the street corner from a large black man......

Note: Sarcasm intended....

[Laridus Konivaich]

Well, governmental agencies should not get to have monopolies if private companies cannot. Also, aren't other agencies involved in keeping food clean, such as the department of agriculture?

Is it an exaggeration that it takes fifteen years for a drug to get on the market? If it isn't, then we definately need to break the FDA's spine, and let private organizations/businesses do some testing too, officially.