ppp 06-15-09

Quote of the day: Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe,

call it a family. Whatever you call it,

whoever you are, you need one.

Jane Howard, "Families"

Next Sunday is Father’s Day. One day per year to make a fuss over dad. While everyone has a father, not everyone knows him or lives with him. In our society more children than ever are being raised by women apart from their fathers. Fathers are important to the formation of young men but even more so to their daughters. Father’s teach their children many things: how to hammer a nail, fix a faucet, bait a hook, read, and pray. Even the least handy “handyman” and physically weakest fathers can, and SHOULD, demonstrate … not just muscular strength but moral strength. Father’s SHOULD give good example to their sons in all things: demonstrate honesty and fair play, how to handle stress in a dignified manner, and how to act as protector of women and not as a predator. Girls have their femininity validated by a loving and caring father who looks out for their best interests while enforcing decorum and modesty.

Where fathers are absent, children look to other sources for direction and discipline. Unfortunately, many boys look to gangs for their paternal influence and direction. A more positive male role model can also be accessed through scouting. As a scout leader I saw more than a few “single moms” who introduced their sons into scouting at an early age. I don’t know if those women were looking for positive male role models or something else. I did see all of the boys rise to the level of expectation. While many criticize Boy Scouting as archaic and a “throw back”, the organization does have rules, sets limits, and encourages achievement and excellence.

The FDA could learn a few things from good dads everywhere in the treatment of pharmaceutical companies. They are pretty good at setting rules and enforcing them but in the past have taken on the affect of a gang leader instead of a father. They could do a little more to encourage achievement and excellence. Recently the FDA is offering “guidance” documents which could be a good sign. If they keep it up I just might send them a card next year… or maybe even a necktie.

ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was " I'm movin' and a groovin' "

pps. Please note that some of the links may not be up for very long and that

Answer: Mrs Bigger's baby... who is just a little Bigger. We may not be using antipsychotics on infants such as Mrs. Bigger's baby but 3 antipsychotics have now been recommended by an FDA expert panel for use in children ages 10 to 17. The drugs are already approved for use in adults and psychiatrists have been using them on kids. A change in the official labeling will just make it harder for the trial lawyers.

FDA wants psychiatric side effects added to the official product labeling of the leukotriene inhibitors such as Montelukast (Singulair), Zafirlukast (Accolate), and Zileuton (Zyflo). (all used against asthma).

3) …just some GUIDANCE… with a MUST attached! (Although this is all non-binding)

The following statement MUST be added to prescription drug medication guides.

From all appearances, patients are calling the MEDWATCH number asking for advice about side effects and the MEDWATCH folks don’t want THAT responsibility.

Henry Waxman wants to limit new drug patents to 5 years. The industry says that it needs 12 to 14 years of exclusivity to break even on biologic drugs. The only way that this would work is if the Fed bought out all of the expenses involved in the research and development of drugs that did NOT make it to market. I’d better be careful what I propose because THEY don’t need more ideas on how to spend OUR tax dollars.

Canadian nuclear reactors to stop making medical radioisotopes due to aging plants. Nuclear plant replacement ideas have failed. They will stop as soon as other countries pick up the load. Let's hope it isn't Korea or Iran.

The smallest of the drug firms committed to producing a vaccine against H1N1 (“swine flu”) appears to have a jump on the others. Vaccine batch should be ready by August.

Article shows how PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES have stepped up with programs to provide free drugs for those that can’t afford them. Retailers such as Walmart are mentioned in the article. See the sidebar on the www.PHARMWORKS,com site for some other free drug options.

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