FDA Appoints Members of Risk Communication Panel

The FDA has created a new 15-member advisory panel to advise the agency about the best methods to educate consumers about the risks and benefits about the products it regulates. The idea to create this advisory panel was in response to a highly unfavorable review of the FDA by the Institute of Medicine and growing public concern about health risks of FDA-approved products. The Committee's 15 voting members consist of members of the public (including patients, caregivers, and consumers of FDA-regulated products) and independent experts from the fields of risk communication, decision analysis, communication, and marketing.

"Communicating effectively about the safety and effectiveness of drugs and other medical products is one of the central roles of the FDA," said Randy Lutter, the FDA's deputy commissioner for policy".

Interestingly, one of the panel members is a lawyer who heads the healthcare and pharmaceutical litigation department at a law firm whose clients include major drug companies. The first meeting of the Panel will take place early next year.