Survey: Half of US doctors use placebo treatments

[DuncanONeil]

Nothing in the least hyperbolic in this. People in this country suffering terminal conditions are prevented from choosing any treatment that is available but not approved by the FDA for their condition.
Drugs that are approved by the FDA and found to be effective against something else are prohibited to be used for the second condition. Why? Because the FDA will not allow it to be so used!

I think condemn to death is hyperbole. The main issue here is actually insurance coverage. You can get unapproved drugs by ordering them through mail order across the border. If there are issues with the drug the lack of FDA approval and the fact that you circumvented the countries regulations will protect the drug provider from liability.

[SadisticNature]

You continue to talk about the FDA as if it has this magical power to stop people from ordering drugs by mail across the border and getting them then taking them, and that by doing so it is condemning people to death. The fact is if you want to use drug X to treat disease Y you can order it by mail, pay for it yourself and do so.

You have done nothing to address this point in your statement, rather you continue to claim the FDA is condemning people to death.

As for 1st condition vs 2nd condition:
(i) There needs to be evidence the drug actually works for condition 2.
(ii) There needs to be consideration of side effects and severity of condition. A drug that sometimes causes death might be acceptable for treating a terminal form of cancer, but if the manufacturer also wants to use it to treat headaches that might raise alarm bells.

Nothing in the least hyperbolic in this. People in this country suffering terminal conditions are prevented from choosing any treatment that is available but not approved by the FDA for their condition.
Drugs that are approved by the FDA and found to be effective against something else are prohibited to be used for the second condition. Why? Because the FDA will not allow it to be so used!

[SadisticNature]

You argue that I am wrong to assume that it is not the case that every individual will carry out proper due diligence without regulation. I'd argue the onus is on you to prove that they will.

The fact is the current system has regulations because it requires the companies to carry out due diligence for the benefit of the citizenry. Your unsubstantiated claim is that without the regulations 100% of companies will do this anyways 100% of the time. If you could prove this I'd have no problem with abolishing the regulations, however both history and human nature argue to the contrary.

[DuncanONeil]

I do not argue that 100% of companies will do the right thing, as you freely admit.
Using history as an argument is a bit weak in the modern age, I submit. It is information that allows people to make an informed decision. Information is substantially more available today, than in the past.
Few regulations are designed to require due diligence. They are set up for the purpose of establishing what is considered appropriate and for the purpose of punishment.
Again the actual proposal I made was to do away with the FDA and replace it with something that could move in a manner akin to, say, a motorcycle than a locomotive.

You argue that I am wrong to assume that it is not the case that every individual will carry out proper due diligence without regulation. I'd argue the onus is on you to prove that they will.

The fact is the current system has regulations because it requires the companies to carry out due diligence for the benefit of the citizenry. Your unsubstantiated claim is that without the regulations 100% of companies will do this anyways 100% of the time. If you could prove this I'd have no problem with abolishing the regulations, however both history and human nature argue to the contrary.

[DuncanONeil]

It is illegal to purchase drugs that are not approved by the FDA.
As for cross use drugs. Doctors have patients that have more than one condition. One of which they do not have medication for, or they drug they are taking is less than effective. Prescribed a new med for a different condition that presents efficatious treatmet for the previous condition is of no value to the FDA. Said drug must go through the ENTIRE approval process. As to people dying. People with terminal conditions are being prevented from attempting meds or treatments that have been shown effective for their condition. They are prevented, especially in the treatment arena (because there is a doctor involved, mostly) because the med or treatment is not approved. No consideration that these people, dying, freely choose to accept the chance of relief. The ultimate case of you are too stupid to decide for yourself!

You continue to talk about the FDA as if it has this magical power to stop people from ordering drugs by mail across the border and getting them then taking them, and that by doing so it is condemning people to death. The fact is if you want to use drug X to treat disease Y you can order it by mail, pay for it yourself and do so.

You have done nothing to address this point in your statement, rather you continue to claim the FDA is condemning people to death.

As for 1st condition vs 2nd condition:
(i) There needs to be evidence the drug actually works for condition 2.
(ii) There needs to be consideration of side effects and severity of condition. A drug that sometimes causes death might be acceptable for treating a terminal form of cancer, but if the manufacturer also wants to use it to treat headaches that might raise alarm bells.