1. Is the 'therapeutic orphan' about to be adopted?
- Author
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Cote, Charles J., Kauffman, Ralph E., Troendle, Gloria J., and Lambert, George H.
- Subjects
Drugs -- Prescribing ,Pharmacokinetics -- Research ,Pediatric pharmacology -- Research - Abstract
Research into the effectiveness, safety, and dosage of drugs in children is desperately needed. Failure to research the safety and effectiveness of drugs in children means children either do not reap the benefits of new medications or pediatricians prescribe without full knowledge of pediatric dosages or potential side effects unique to children. Obstacles include fears of lawsuits, concerns about the ethics of research in children, small market share, and lack of research funding. However, lawsuits are rare and guidelines for ethical research exist. Incentives should be provided to overcome the financial barriers., In this issue of Pediatrics, the Committee on Drugs (COD) has examined the continued problem of the "unapproved" use of "approved" medications in pediatrics.[1] This commentary will expand on the [...]
- Published
- 1996