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March 03, 2008
Embed with the FDA
by Peter Pitts
Some comments from the glamorous Gaithersburg Hilton and the inaugural meeting of the FDA's Risk Communications Advisory Committee.
Star of the meeting was FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach.
Andy pointed out that the committee's work was "central and core" to the mission of the FDA -- specifically because it speaks to how the FDA crafts messages for the general public. And to that end the Commissioner commented that the FDA has to learn "not only what is the right thing to do -- but how to do it the right way."
The Commissioner spent much of his remarks on the general theme of "putting things into the proper context for the patient," pointing out that "trust is built on communication and dialogue." And he acknowledged that this meeting is taking place "at a time when there is an erosion of consumer trust in the FDA."
Sometimes stating the obvious is the best place to start. Confession, after all, is good for the soul.
"Help us dialogue," the Commissioner asked the committee.
Communications hint to Commissioner: "Dialogue" is not a verb.
To that end he shared that he has floated the idea of "embedded" reporters at the FDA -- and shared that the concept "sent shudders" throughout the agency.
He addressed the need to better balance risk communications so as to avoid unintended consequences, specifically the need to better consider the desire to communicate earlier versus communicating with less evidence and certainty.
Andy also announced that the FDA world shortly announce more details on the Sentinel Network on post-market surveillance. That's good news and long overdue.
The Commissioner also staked a claim to FDA's leadership in educating the American public to what he called "the doctrine of risk," calling for a national dialogue.
Amen again-- and God's Speed.
Posted by peterpitts at March 3, 2008 08:21 AM
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