By the way, doctor: Why aren't drugs safe when they are approved?

Published: August, 2007

Q. First it was Vioxx and now Avandia. Why can't doctors and the government screen out unsafe medicines?

A. The FDA requires testing for effectiveness and safety before it approves a drug. As citizens, we want the agency to thoroughly examine the safety of a drug before approving it, but we also want the FDA to move as quickly as possible to approve new medicines. You see the dilemma.

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