A new senate bill has been proposed in the wake or the Vioxx disaster. If you recall, Vioxx was taken off the shelf not long ago because it causes heart attacks. Recently an article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showing that many other painkillers pose similar risks. Drug manufacterers are currently submitting studies to the FDA where they compare their new "wonder drug" to dangerous drugs currently on the market. When the new drug does not appear any riskier than the old drug, they hail the new one as risk free! The new bill proposes to put a 2 year moratorium on direct-to-consumer drug advertising. It was only in the late 1990's that drug advertising on television and radio really took off. Prior to that time drug companies were required to list all of the side-effects during an advertisement. This made for a lengthy diatribe at the end of the commercial that left a sour taste in consumers mouths. In the late '90's that changed and drug makers were only required to list a few of the more serious side effects, and provide a number that you could call for more information. As a result direct-to-consumer advertising exploded. People began insisting that they have the purple pill, Viagra, and Lipitor from their doctors, and never mind that they only got heartburn after eating pizza with hot peppers just before bed, never had an erectile problem, and had normal cholesterol levels! In addition to the moratorium, the bill has tougher safety regulations for the introduction of new drugs. Our country will be a healthier place if this bill passses! Link to the bill. Link to JAMA article on dangers of painkillers.