marla@Sun.COM (Marla Parker) (07/28/89)
I heard on NPR this morning that someone, Pat Schroeder maybe?, is trying to get the government to start seriously funding lots of research into birth control. She pointed out that many women today are using the same method of birth control as Cleopatra did: a sponge. Also she said that other countries have developed various methods that are not available to women in the US, and have not even been tested. The commentator asked her how she thought Congress was going to support birth control research when they are so paranoid about the A-word issue right now. She said the only way that Congress would support it will be if their constituents demand that they do so. If you think funding more serious and widespread research into birth control is a good idea, write or call your reps today. Marla Parker (415)336-2538 marla@sun.com
turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin) (08/01/89)
In article <118251@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>, marla@Sun.COM (Marla Parker) writes: > ... Also she said that other countries have developed > various methods that are not available to women in the US, and have > not even been tested. ... Once upon a time, the US was the world leader in practical medical technology such as birth control. The two factors that have combined to make this kind of research impractical are (1) enormously increased litigation, often in search of deep pockets, surrounding medical practice and research, and (2) the ever more restrictive policies by the FDA that constrain worthwhile medical innovation. It as an unfortunate fact of life that medical advances require some risk by those who are first willing to try them. The first woman ever to use a sponge could have discovered a deadly toxin easily absorbed through mucous membranes rather than a benign, if not too effective, contraceptive. There is a legitimate need for laws that make doctors responsible for malpractice, require researchers to use caution, and to keep informed those who volunteer for new practices. But we have tried to legislate away any risk, and in doing so, have destroyed innovation. The cure for a problem caused by government bungling is not a new government program, but less government bungling. Russell