The FDA interfering with informed consent between doctor and patient isn't something I find a source of complex feelings.
The agency bears zero responsibility for the pain and suffering its caused by overcaution.
The agency bears zero responsibility for the pain and suffering its caused by overcaution.
Thalidomide.
Patients (and often doctors) really don't have the skills or information to make an informed decision.
They can however have 'feelings'. This is not the same thing.
To continue my example of thalidomide, the FDA's Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey prevented millions of American babies from being born with devastating deformities.
At the same time millions of American mothers and their GP's were clamoring for the anti-nausea drug that the British mother's were enjoying. And they too said the FDA was getting in their way.
Experts aren't "made of finer clay" : they just know a lot more than the populace about specific topics. There are other topics where I am the finer clay. See 'specialisation'.