This week, Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) announced that the agency would like to be able to fast-track the approval process for novel (innovative) medical devices.
Here is a link to FDA information about the proposal. There will be a public meeting on March 15 at FDA offices in Silver Spring, Maryland. Written comments will be accepted through April 12.
I am posting this because deep brain stimulators are medical devices, and who knows what mechanical treatments may be developed for Parkinson's disease in the future? If you have any comments on this important issue, I urge you to make them known at the public meeting or in a written submission. Comments to don't have to be formal! You can simply say "I think this is a good/bad idea because ..." and give your reasons. Be as specific as possible for maximum impact.
