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Minerva Medicolegale 2008 June;128(2):85-91

Copyright © 2008 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Adverse events and medical responsibility: essential issues related to widesperead use of statins in ihd prevention era

Cocuzza S. ¹, Alecce G. ², Argo A. ³, Zerbo S. ³, Fleres P. ³, Procaccianti P. ³

¹ AICAF Associazione Italiana Cardiologia Forense 2 Centro medico-legale polispecialistico INPS, Roma 3 Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Legale Sezione di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) describes the unwanted, negative consequence associated with the use of different medications. The case report highlights the problem of uncontrolled administration of drugs, without the necessary surveillance in detecting potential adverse effects. While medications have led to major improvement in the treatment and control of diseases, they might also produce harmful consequences on the human body and their approval by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is based on the assumption that beneficial effects are superior to unwanted negative consequences. In all cases a constant monitoring of the patient is required.