The FDA and trust

After reading several letters to the editor concerning vaccines and possible side effects, several questions need to be answered. Why do people believe that vaccines cause autism? Why do people not believe the research and their medical doctors?

I believe that some of the blame can be put on the Food and Drug Administration. Patients no longer trust that the FDA has their safety in mind. Let's remember a drug that research showed was good for osteoarthritis and had no side effects. Merck marketed Vioxx as the once-a-day pill. This drug was cleared by the FDA and was shown to have little or no side effects. We all know now that Vioxx causes increased risk of stroke and heart attack. We also know that Merck has been accused of hiding research that showed these side effects.

What does this have to do with vaccines and autism? No matter what research shows or a doctor tells a patient, there must be trust in the information. Medical doctors do not understand that some of their patients do not believe a word they say when it comes to vaccines and autism. Why? Because, like Vioxx, many drugs have been pulled from the shelves after new research shows that there are severe side effects. This is why there are conspiracy theories about "Big Pharma" and why some parents correlate vaccines with autism.

Until the FDA begins to do its job effectively many people will not believe or trust their doctors or any research. It is imperative that the FDA be fixed and keep people safe from all dangerous drugs and promote the drugs that are beneficial.

ANTHONY P. CHAPPIE, D.C.
Greentree Chiropractic and Rehab
Green Tree