Caroline Bradford

Over-the-counter birth control? Drugmaker seeks FDA approval

Associated Press, July 11, 2022: For the first time, a pharmaceutical company has asked for permission to sell a birth control pill over the counter in the U.S. Birth control pills are safer than pregnancy, but they are sometimes taken for other reasons.

Toxic chemicals lurk at playgrounds

E&E News, July 8, 2022: The sight of rubber surfaces on playgrounds concerns Dr. Diana Zuckerman, “because as president for the National Center for Health Research she has testified in front of multiple municipal and even state governments about the toxic chemicals that can lurk on those playground surfaces.” They look very pretty and feel spongy if a child falls, but the evidence shows the toxic chemicals in these surfaces can be harmful to children.

When Do At-Home COVID-19 Tests Expire?

The FDA has recently given emergency authorization to extend the shelf-life of at-home test kits, adding an additional 3-6 months to the expiration date printed on the box.

These machines to help people breathe were recalled a year ago. Many still use them

Los Angeles Times, June 23, 2022: CPAP, BiPAP, and other ventilators made by Philips that help people stay alive were recalled more than a year ago. But patients haven’t been informed and others can’t live without them unless there is a replacement device that they can afford. FDA is now pressuring Philips to replace them.

Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition Letter to Senate HELP on the Updated Food and Drug Administration Safety and Landmark Advancements Act of 2022 (FDASLA)

June 13, 2022: While pleased with many of the changes in the updated bill introduced on May 26, we continue to have serious concerns regarding a number of provisions, including: lack of sufficient post-market surveillance of medical devices; several weaknesses regarding accelerated approval reform; lack of bill language to improve the diversity of patients in clinical trials used as the basis of FDA approval decisions; and the lack of post-market surveillance activities in the VALID Act.