Consumers Union and 17 great drug safety activists came to DC at the end of June for the FDA’s one-hundreth anniversary. These activists told Congress their personal stories of suffering and prescription drug side effect problems. Together, we told the FDA and Congress to do more to protect our health and ensure medications on the market are safe.
We held a news conference and meet with members of the House and Senate that day. A group of bipartisan House members and two people with personal stories of suffering due to prescription drug side effects spoke at the news conference.
Ohio resident Cathy Harter met with Senator DeWine of Ohio personally. Cathy’s son, Stephen died due to a drug side effect that its maker knew about, but did not disclose to the public. Senator DeWine listened to her story and agreed to support drug safety legislation in Congress.
Everyone who cam to DC that day, came away inspired by our power to make change. These 17 activists have become leaders in a movement that will one day ensure that Congress and the FDA fix our broken drug safety system.
The Prescription for Change campaign will be working closely with these activists and we hope with YOU as well over the next year to make sure Congress acts this year and passes strong drug safety legislation.