Publisher's Synopsis
The subject of drug risks and benefits has moved from doctors' offices and pharmaceutical company research laboratories to the front pages of daily newspapers and international conferences. There is a growing body of knowledge about drug risk/benefit appraisal, pharmacoepidemiology, patient behavior and corporate and regulatory trends. This book documents the papers presented and discussions held at an international dialogue conference in April, 1990, at Wolfsberg, Switzerland, which took the topic of risk and benefits of drug therapy one step further to responsibility. It includes a rich menu of issues for those who care about the evaluation of drug therapy, the ethics behind it, the expectations of the patient, and the role of traditional and nontraditional drug safety communications. The ideas expressed here come from different parts of the world but relate to common drug safety problems, observations, and scientific assessments; they provide insights into innovative approaches, cautious changes, and desired actions. Future directions are described by the Wolfsberg Thinkpieces, which were set out at the conclusion of the conference and which show how the leaders from various countries and fields of work viewed specific drug safety issues and how they thought responsibility for improving the situation could be shared.
