From: Asgaard

The reason FDA has not approved this drug is most probably because it does not make mildly retarded boys less retarded. But of course, it's not up to the state to protect people from wasting their money on snake oil. It becomes more difficult to uphold a pure market philosophy when it comes to poisonous snake oil or, as is often the case with potent drugs, effective oil but which will kill you from side effects after a delay. [. . . . . ] .................................................

In reference to the "pure" market:

The point is not simply that the State should protect people from snake-oil salesmen.

There are many "private" agencies whom one can pay to do the work of research on the actual benefits of a drug; companies which which can, if one does not have the time or the expert knowledge, perform tests and such to establish whether there is any danger involved in taking it. This would be the same kind of work that anyone would need to do in any case (information that they would need to have), whether as an individual or a private group or a government agency.

They, too, can do all the work of checking on the safety of the product, ensuring that it is good, guaranteeing the reality of any positive effects, then handing it over to the their client and saying, "there - now, we are satisfied in our judgement that it is not dangerous to use it."

The point is that it is not right to prevent, stifle, suffocate, the liberty to use one's own resources, to act at one's own discretion and make one's own choices in regard of one's own particular circumstance, to make independently the judgements necessary to determine the truth or falsehood of a statement, or the efficacy of a drug - i.e., it is not right to have to "give it up" to the State, allowing no one else to engage in the mental exercise and follow-through.

.. Blanc I hope I'm not the only one here who thinks so.