Comments of Consumers Union before the Food and Drug Administration Science Board

It has become increasingly clear that consumers do not receive an adequate balance of information about the risks and benefits of many prescription drugs, which has led to the inappropriate and harmful use of some medications in recent years. The project goal is to empower doctors and patients in making informed medication decisions guided by unbiased information rather than direct-to-consumer and direct-to-physician advertising that fails to tell the whole story about safety and effectiveness.