Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!ames!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero!turpin@cs.utexas.edu
From: turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: birth control funding
Summary: Who's to blame for lack of birth control technology.
Message-ID: <5875@cs.utexas.edu>
Date: 1 Aug 89 05:27:58 GMT
References: <118251@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Sender: nadel@aerospace.aero.org
Distribution: usa
Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 26
Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org
Status: R


In article <118251@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>, marla@Sun.COM (Marla Parker) writes:
> ...  Also she said that other countries have developed
> various methods that are not available to women in the US, and have
> not even been tested. ...

Once upon a time, the US was the world leader in practical
medical technology such as birth control.  The two factors that
have combined to make this kind of research impractical are (1)
enormously increased litigation, often in search of deep pockets,
surrounding medical practice and research, and (2) the ever more
restrictive policies by the FDA that constrain worthwhile medical
innovation. 

It as an unfortunate fact of life that medical advances require
some risk by those who are first willing to try them.  The first
woman ever to use a sponge could have discovered a deadly toxin
easily absorbed through mucous membranes rather than a benign, if
not too effective, contraceptive.  There is a legitimate need for
laws that make doctors responsible for malpractice, require
researchers to use caution, and to keep informed those who
volunteer for new practices.  But we have tried to legislate away
any risk, and in doing so, have destroyed innovation. 

The cure for a problem caused by government bungling is not a new
government program, but less government bungling.

Russell