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FRONTLINE
introduction
dangerous prescription
More than a dozen dangerous drugs have been pulled off the market since 1997. Why were they approved in the first place? An investigation of America's drug safety system.

hazardous to your health?

A look inside the FDA, its recent record, and the debate over whether our nation's drug safety system is broken. Plus, FAQs and links for consumers.

defending the fda

Philip Hilts, author of a much-discussed new book on the FDA, talks about the agency's contentious political history -- and why defending it is "a peculiar business."

politics, profits & pharma

Big Pharma is one of Washington's most powerful interest groups. But are its lobbying efforts always good for business? A Web-exclusive analysis by Jonathan Cohn.

producer's notebook: spin doctors

Producer Andrew Liebman offers two stories, not included in the documentary, about how drug companies have been known to handle bad news.

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related FRONTLINE reports
the other drug war the alternative fix

 

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introduction + hazardous to your health? + defending the fda + politics, profits & pharma + producer's notebook
producer's chat + interviews + faqs & links + a dirty dozen + discussion + watch online
tapes & transcripts + press reaction + credits + privacy policy
FRONTLINE + wgbh + pbsi

Dangerous Prescription

As medications play an ever-increasing role in modern health care, the importance of FDA approval to consumers, it would seem, has never been greater. For many consumers, the phrase "FDA approved" signifies that a drug or product is completely safe and without risk. But just how much does the average American know about the FDA approval process and what it can -- and cannot -- do? How good is the FDA's system for identifying drugs that don't work or cause harm? And what happens when a harmful product makes its way into consumers' hands? FRONTLINE investigates the FDA and drug safety, and questions whether the current system is adequate for protecting the public.

posted november 13, 2003

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