Do No Harm

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Annually, over half a million people die of cancer, but behind the scenes of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) are several promising treatments that will probably never see the light of day. In 1994, a new drug called Angiostatin was created. This new treatment presumably could halt malignant tumors and reverse the harmful effects of cancer. Set up by the FDA, a clinical trial equipped with the use of the medicine in animals began soon after the discovery. The results of the trial showed that in three different types of cancer, Angiostatin ranged from 90-98% effective in ridding the cancer. Even with the astounding conclusions from the clinical trial, the FDA waited another six years to approve Angiostatin. In those six years, more than three million people diagnosed with cancer died, and part of those three million could have been saved with the use of Angiostatin, but the FDA dragged on the process of approving it (Falloon 3). Terminally ill patients need medication, even if not FDA approved, given that the risks and benefits are accurately portrayed. The FDA offers programs called clinical trials where a new drug is tested in patients, but the patients are only considered when every other treatment option has been exhausted (Falloon 4). Clinical trials are also selective, as only people of certain ages, sexes, and types or stages of disease with previous treatment are even considered to participate (Inside Clinical Trials 2). This causes almost ninety seven percent of terminally ill patients to be ineligible for a trial (Corieri 3). Also, clinical trials only allow a small amount of people, with only between 20 and 80 people chosen to participate in phase 1 (Inside Clinical Trials 2). With this margin, even ... ... middle of paper ... ...mitted by the FDA. Works Cited Corieri, Christina. “Everyone Deserves the Right to Try: Empowering the Terminally Ill to Take Control of Their Treatment.” Goldwater Institute Feb. 2014 Falloon, William. “Ending the Cancer Bureaucracy.” Life Extension Magazine Feb. 2001 “FDA Says No to Dying Patients Seeking Access to Experimental Drugs or Treatments.” anh- usa.org. 16 July 2012. Alliance for Natural Health. 9 March 2014. http://www.anh-usa.org/fda-says-no-to-dying-patients-seeking-access-to-experimental-durgs-or-treatments/>. “Inside Clinical Trials: Testing Medical Products in People.” fda.gov. 12 April 2013. Federal Drug Administration. 9 March 2014. . “Theory, Evidence, and Examples of FDA Harm.” fdareview.org The Independent Institute. 9 March 2014. .

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