Among his suggestions: better methods for tracking drug side effects, substantially less direct-to-consumer advertising, and giving the FDA the legislative authority to force drugmakers to conduct trials that fully examine the risks of their medicines.
In America, drug firms have done well out of direct-to-consumer promotion since hard-sell television advertising was allowed for prescription drugs in August 1997 (see article).
The Food and Drug Administration replied to accusations that a top official had perjured himself during Congressional hearings about direct-to-consumer genetic tests, saying that the FDA stood behind his statements.
America, which accounts for some 40% of global drug sales, introduced legislation in 1997 that allowed direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceuticals.
Perhaps as a condition of direct-to-consumer advertising, drug companies should have to set aside some funds to pay for advertisements that would alert consumers when something goes wrong.