Comments on: A World Without the FDA http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/ Ideas on Liberty Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:41:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: New England Patriots Plan http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-54681 New England Patriots Plan Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:37:31 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-54681 This really is a really good read I think, Must admit that you'll be one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Many thanks for posting this informative article. This really is a really good read I think, Must admit that you’ll be one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Many thanks for posting this informative article.

]]> By: Drik http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-52051 Drik Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:47:53 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-52051 The government has decided that pens and pencils with a drug company product name on it geven to physicians are too corrupting for the physicians and will unduly influence their professional jjudgement and cause them to alter their behavior and give substandard care. Unlike the lobbying of the government and the government agencies who are apparantly not affected at all by lobbyist's lavish dinners, entertainment, and gifts. No substandard behavior going on there at all. The government has decided that pens and pencils with a drug company product name on it geven to physicians are too corrupting for the physicians and will unduly influence their professional jjudgement and cause them to alter their behavior and give substandard care.
Unlike the lobbying of the government and the government agencies who are apparantly not affected at all by lobbyist’s lavish dinners, entertainment, and gifts. No substandard behavior going on there at all.

]]> By: Tom Langley http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-50116 Tom Langley Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:42:42 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-50116 There's also the question of corruption. I think it would be naive to believe that the FDA is not lobbied and "enticed" to see things the drug company's way. The government sector has no incentive to be truthful, honest, diligent, etc. etc. You find those incentives only in a free market. I like the idea of an Underwriter's Laboratory in the pharmaceutical context. This would work in many areas where government now holds monopolies. Building codes and automobile safety, to name just two. There’s also the question of corruption. I think it would be naive to believe that the FDA is not lobbied and “enticed” to see things the drug company’s way. The government sector has no incentive to be truthful, honest, diligent, etc. etc. You find those incentives only in a free market. I like the idea of an Underwriter’s Laboratory in the pharmaceutical context.

This would work in many areas where government now holds monopolies. Building codes and automobile safety, to name just two.

]]> By: George Thompson http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-48833 George Thompson Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:33:08 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-48833 About twenty years ago I found a used book that predated the FDA. It was a catalog of drugs available on the market with full descriptions, reccommendations, warnings, etc. written for the average person. Similar books are available today, at least for prescription drugs. The Internet has virtually everything too. About twenty years ago I found a used book that predated the FDA. It was a catalog of drugs available on the market with full descriptions, reccommendations, warnings, etc. written for the average person. Similar books are available today, at least for prescription drugs. The Internet has virtually everything too.

]]> By: Scott Mc http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-48826 Scott Mc Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:01:10 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-48826 Only question we need to ask is what does the market want? If it is safe and effective drugs the market can deliver without an fda - as stated how do we get there is the big question. Only question we need to ask is what does the market want? If it is safe and effective drugs the market can deliver without an fda – as stated how do we get there is the big question.

]]> By: Bobbingsworth http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-32863 Bobbingsworth Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:40:00 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-32863 It is impossible to know whether or not drugs will be less safe without the FDA since no drugs are allowed to be sold without the FDA's approval. Alternative certifying companies may do more effective testing. Since this world without the FDA would not necessarily be a world without insurance companies, I am fairly certain that the drug companies will not be the only ones paying for testing. Likewise, since the world would probably also still have lawyers, Drug companies would probably contractually obligate pharmacists to keep riskier drugs behind the shelf and only sell them to people after a certain amount of screening. The big problem with simply disbanding the FDA is the transition period. It will take some time for alternative testing companies to start up and much longer for anyone to trust them. The only way I can think of to do this is to make FDA certification optional and, over time scale back the agency until nobody notices it being shut down. So Miracle # 1: find enough politicians with the courage to shut it down. Miracle # 2: keep them honest and in office long enough to finish the job. It is impossible to know whether or not drugs will be less safe without the FDA since no drugs are allowed to be sold without the FDA’s approval. Alternative certifying companies may do more effective testing.
Since this world without the FDA would not necessarily be a world without insurance companies, I am fairly certain that the drug companies will not be the only ones paying for testing. Likewise, since the world would probably also still have lawyers, Drug companies would probably contractually obligate pharmacists to keep riskier drugs behind the shelf and only sell them to people after a certain amount of screening.
The big problem with simply disbanding the FDA is the transition period. It will take some time for alternative testing companies to start up and much longer for anyone to trust them. The only way I can think of to do this is to make FDA certification optional and, over time scale back the agency until nobody notices it being shut down. So Miracle # 1: find enough politicians with the courage to shut it down. Miracle # 2: keep them honest and in office long enough to finish the job.

]]> By: Erich http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-25487 Erich Wed, 05 May 2010 18:11:10 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-25487 @DD This is a good point. You deserve (1) libertarian cookie. @DD This is a good point. You deserve (1) libertarian cookie.

]]> By: FDA Rejects Treatment for Fatal Disease | The Freeman | Ideas On Liberty http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-25451 FDA Rejects Treatment for Fatal Disease | The Freeman | Ideas On Liberty Wed, 05 May 2010 13:10:17 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-25451 [...] Timely Classic “A World Without the FDA” by Russell [...] [...] Timely Classic “A World Without the FDA” by Russell [...]

]]> By: DD http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-18495 DD Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:54:35 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-18495 I find the idea expressed by the author that drugs today may be safer as completely baseless and unfortunate, for he did not have to make this concession in order to prove his other point - that “others would be saved by the wider and earlier availability of life-saving drugs”. The author assumes that “safety” regulation is a tradeoff that can be provided by the government, although at the expense of more readable new drugs. There is no reason to assume that government can provide any meaningful “safety” regulations at all. “Bad regulations drive out good regulations” comes to mind. The author neglects the fact that the sense of false security that the government creates reduces the comparative advantage a drug company would have in offering a “safer” drug to the public. The FDA operates on arbitrary standards and minimum requirements which pharmaceutical companies gain no competitive advantage if they are exceeded. I find the idea expressed by the author that drugs today may be safer as completely baseless and unfortunate, for he did not have to make this concession in order to prove his other point – that “others would be saved by the wider and earlier availability of life-saving drugs”.

The author assumes that “safety” regulation is a tradeoff that can be provided by the government, although at the expense of more readable new drugs. There is no reason to assume that government can provide any meaningful “safety” regulations at all. “Bad regulations drive out good regulations” comes to mind. The author neglects the fact that the sense of false security that the government creates reduces the comparative advantage a drug company would have in offering a “safer” drug to the public. The FDA operates on arbitrary standards and minimum requirements which pharmaceutical companies gain no competitive advantage if they are exceeded.

]]> By: George Schwappach http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/a-world-without-the-fda/comment-page-1/#comment-18492 George Schwappach Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:49:53 +0000 http://www.thefreemanonline.org/uncategorized/a-world-without-the-fda/#comment-18492 Good article. You forgot to mention the pharmacist that was available in the store in Chile. Unlike his American counter-part, this professional PERSCRIBES medicines. After his education was complete, the drug companies took over and taught him about the benefits of the various products, much like they do with doctors here in the states. Chileans aren't drug experts. They trust their local pharmacists. Good article. You forgot to mention the pharmacist that was available in the store in Chile. Unlike his American counter-part, this professional PERSCRIBES medicines. After his education was complete, the drug companies took over and taught him about the benefits of the various products, much like they do with doctors here in the states.
Chileans aren’t drug experts. They trust their local pharmacists.

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