Newsletters

Manufacturer's Liability for Over-the-Counter Drug-Related Injuries

Today many drugs begin as prescription medications but are later sold as over-the counter (OTC) drugs. Prescription drugs are drugs that are considered unsafe (due to their toxicity or potential for harmful effects) for use except under a physician's supervision. OTC drugs must be safer than drugs that are dispensed by prescription because they are taken by a consumer without any medical supervision. Manufacturers of OTC drugs can decrease the harmful potential of the drugs by adequately labeling the products. The label must include the appropriate dosage, instructions on the use of the product, any potential side effects, and symptoms or conditions that contraindicate use of the OTC drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the labeling and advertising of OTC drugs.

Access to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Treatments

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to any form of therapy or treatment outside the conventional medical therapies for disease. Complementary medicine is used along with conventional medical therapies, while alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine.

Human Gene Therapy

Genes are the basic units of heredity. Human genes contain information that tells the body how to work. They are responsible for cellular structure and function. When a gene is defective, it prevents the cell from carrying out its normal functions.