The Right To Know The Truth About Medical Products

Bob Carroll

Contributor

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I am the owner of two drug-eluding coronary stents. I keep them in one of my major blood vessels where they were placed in the fall of 2006. Two days after their installation the ongoing debate over their safety surfaced in the medical literature.

The debate continues today according to this article:

Drug-eluting Coronary Stents-A Wealth of Data and Little Agreement

The use of the stents in my particular situation was the right step at the time. And, so far, I would still elect to have them implanted.

The point to be made, however, is that medical studies and debates over drugs and devices should be made available to the public as soon as possible. There should be no lid on the truth, no secrecy to the debate. We who use the drugs and devices deserve to know the good, the bad and the ugly about them.

My experience of over 35 years in Florida handling injury claims arising from defective products convinces me that the ultimate consumer has a right to know what he is buying and using. That right extends to reports of product failures or defects and to debates over safety.