Research news: Reports rise of death, harm from medicine

The News:
Reports rise of death, harm from medicine
Incidents more than doubled from 1998 to '05, which may fuel calls for better federal regulation.
By Bruce Japsen Chicago Tribune
Article Last Updated: 09/10/2007 11:26:04 PM MDT
Chicago - The number of serious injuries and deaths reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from drugs more than doubled between 1998 and 2005, according to a report in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine published by the American Medical Association.
The report is expected to add momentum to reform the federal government's monitoring of prescription drugs.
The study said the dramatic rise in "adverse events" reported to the FDA point out myriad problems with the monitoring of drugs before approval and after they are on the market.
Incidents resulting in death or serious injuries such as birth defects, disability and hospitalization were examined.
The report suggested that the FDA and the health care system, including doctors, hospitals and other caregivers, are lacking in their ability to manage medications.

The Research:
Read the research behind this story in Archives of Internal Medicine.