New watchdog for adverse drug events needed

Although adverse drug reactions are an important cause of serious illness and even death, we only become aware of new adverse events long after the drugs have been widely prescribed. In an editorial in this issue, Editor John Hoey speculates on whether the current system of relying on the conscientious participation of drug companies to issue warnings to physicians about potentially serious adverse events is adequate. He suggests it may be time to establish a parallel agency for the surveillance and dissemination of information about adverse drug reactions.

p. 1293 Postmarketing drug surveillance: what it would take to make it work
� J. Hoey