Consumers' Union's awesome advocacy animation

Consumers Union — the advocacy group that publishes the excellent Consumer Reports magazine — has produced a funny, raunchy Schoolhouse Rock-style animation to call attention to the fact that current FDA rules don't require drug companies to release their clinical trial results even if they show that the pill you're about to take could really screw you up.

First we learn that Vioxx increases the risk of heart attacks. Now, we learn that Merck may have had research, as early as 2000, that uncovered these problems, but didn't make it known to the public. It is time to end this secrecy. Lives depend on it.

Legislators have just introduced a bill–The Fair Access to Clinical Trials Act (FACT Act)–to require drug companies to make public all the results of their clinical trials so we'll know about potentially harmful side effects. And Congress must create an independent office of drug safety in the Food and Drug Administration to ensure quick action is taken when safety concerns are raised.

Link

(Thanks, Bill!)