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Keynote address
Author(s) -
Hellman Louis M.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1973144part2625
Subject(s) - excellence , realm , consumerism , offspring , product (mathematics) , medicine , pregnancy , business , psychology , political science , law , geometry , mathematics , biology , genetics
We are entering an age of intense consumerism. This is one of the many important social changes that are taking place. I suppose consumerism can be defined as public attitude demanding maximum benefit with absolute safety at the lowest cost. In the realm of drugs the attainment of that goal is, of course, impossible. Drugs taken by human beings are measured by the ratio of benefit to safety. No effective drug, even aspirin, is absolutely safe. The ratio of benefit to safety is difficult to ascertain, particularly when it comes to the effect on the fetus and offspring of drugs used during pregnancy. Dr. McCrory has said, “Any time a society limits the number of offspring, or at least offers the means of such limitation, there should be a guarantee that the children will be as perfect as possible.” It seems to me that the next 10 or 15 years offer a tremendous opportunity to develop techniques to perfect intrauterine diagnosis. Intrauterine diagnosis, the means of measuring the excellence of the product, the health of the baby, and its potential, are areas to which you should devote your attention.