Making Medicines Safer — The Need for an Independent Drug Safety Board

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Abstract
Dexfenfluramine (Redux) was withdrawn from the market in the United States in 1997 amid speculation that millions who used it could have been harmed.13 More recently, mibefradil (Posicor) was withdrawn because of suggestions that it may have serious interactions with other drugs.4 Adverse reactions to drugs are an important cause of morbidity and mortality; it has been estimated recently that approximately 100,000 Americans die every year as a result of such adverse reactions,5 making them one of the most common causes of death. Independent agencies exist to investigate airline accidents, railroad mishaps, and radiation spills and to make recommendations . . .