Speaking of polls, these results just don’t make any sense.
Most Americans say they’re at least somewhat confident about the safety of prescription drugs sold in the United States, according to an Associated Press poll taken at a time when several popular medications have been linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
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Just over eight in 10 said they have confidence in the general safety of prescription drugs in this country, the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs found. Almost that many said they have confidence in the FDA.
This has to be an example of public ignorance gone awry.
In the weeks leading up to this poll, Dr. David Graham, the reviewer in the FDA’s office of safety research, said federal drug regulators are “virtually incapable of protecting America” from unsafe drugs. Then the FDA was caught removing experts from public health panels because they criticized drug manufacturers. Then the prescription drug industry was rocked by revelations that Vioxx and Celebrex can cause serious health risks, leading serious people to accuse the FDA of rampant incompetence and approving drugs for the market far too quickly, due in part to pressure from pharmaceutical companies.
These stories dominated headlines for weeks … right up until Americans overwhelmingly said they have high confidence in the system and the FDA.
When White House Chief of Staff Andy Card said the FDA is doing a “spectacular” job and should “continue to do the job they do,” that’s one thing. He’s a well-paid professional liar and part of an administration that creates its own reality. I expect obvious nonsensical propaganda from Card; it’s his job. But regular people should at least have picked up on a hint of trouble with drug safety lately. That they haven’t is either a sign of dangerous ignorance or widespread denial.