FDA expert panels - a glimmer of hope

The House Appropriations Committee today approved an amendment introduced by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) that would ban any scientists and doctors with conflicts of interest from serving on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panels.

"Plain and simple, if a doctor or scientist has a personal, financial stake in a drug they should not be allowed to sit on an FDA advisory panel and determine whether that drug is safe," Hinchey said.

"This amendment puts an end to the FDA's rampant use of waivers for advisory panels that have for far too long endangered the safety of the American people. Now that this measure is in the House bill, it will take a lot of work to ensure that it stays in all the way until it becomes law, but I am confident that we can succeed."

Good!