Bills Call for More Disclosure on Rx Drugs
California lawmakers have introduced several bills that would require more public disclosure of medication side effects by hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, the Sacramento Bee reports.
A bill (SB 1683) introduced by Sen. Jack Scott (D-Pasadena) would require drug companies to publicly release clinical trial results for all medications sold in California. Another bill (AB 2856) by Assembly member Loni Hancock (D-El Cerrito) would require doctors to obtain patient consent before prescribing drugs for uses other than those approved by FDA.
Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose) has introduced a bill (SB 1301) that would require additional reporting of medical errors and more state inspections at hospitals in an effort to improve patient safety.
According to the Bee, the bills reflect "a greater emphasis on increasing transparency and accountability in the health care system, particularly in regard to the effects of prescription drugs."
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America opposes Scott's bill, saying efforts already are being made on the federal level to disclose clinical trial information.
In addition, the California Medical Association said it opposes Hancock's bill because doctors already must disclose medication risks to their patients under existing laws (Benson, Sacramento Bee, 3/27).