Fda Gives Conflict Of Interest Pass

By Author: Cathlene Martinez
Total Articles: 18
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Anyone ever wonder how harmful medications and products get passed by the FDA? Because the people who are responsible for deciding whether a product is safe enough for consumption by the American public have conflicts of interests with the companies seeking product approval.

Just this week, the FDA gave a conflict of interest pass to 3 physicians who will be serving on the Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Devices Advisory Panel that meets July 17. Medtronic's application to approve a prosthetic spinal disc for the reduction of back pain in older adults is up for consideration.
According to Merrill Goozner,

"The physicians voting on the device will include the University of Alabama's John Kirkpatrick, who owns stock in Zimmer Corporation and Johnson and Johnson, two leading Medtronic competitors. According to FDA documents, Kirkpatrick's holdings are each valued between $15,000 and $25,000. Panelist Stuart Goodman of Stanford University authored a study funded by Stryker, which manufactures a bone growth supplement. He also has recently received between $10,000 and $50,000 in consulting fees from Medtronic ...
... competitors, according to the FDA. Finally, Edward Hanley owns Medtronic stock valued between $25,000 and $50,000."

"More significantly, Hanley's employer, the Carolinas Medical Center, was involved in testing the Medtronic prosthetic disc that will be before the advisory committee, according to the FDA. In other words, his employer's other employees tested the device that he will be judging."

If the product is unsafe would he be able to muster up the courage to turn down his companies product in front of his fellow employees and bosses? If he does OK the product, why should we believe him?
It is cases such as this one that have allowed many unsafe and unproven products to reach and harm the American public.
Something must be done to eliminate those with vested interest in the outcome of a products approval from being on the board to decide whether or not their product is safe.

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