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Drugs may only be prescribed for an approved set of diseases. Using a drug for a new disease indication without a study to back it up falls"experimental treatm
by Ovah 6y ago
Drugs may only be prescribed for an approved set of diseases. Using a drug for a new disease indication without a study to back it up falls"experimental treatment". In other words, using a drug for an unapproved indication is doing scientific experiments on humans without approval which of course is unethical (and illegal). That said it's easier to get permission to use a new drug for a new disease indication if the drug has had previous clinical history of treating other diseases. At least in my country such permission is handed out on a case by case basis after the responsible physician has applied to the proper regulatory authorities.
- caymanjim 6y agoNot so in the US. Doctors commonly prescribe drugs for off-label use. They are legally allowed to and don't need the government's permission. Insurance companies might not cover it, the doctor's employer might not allow it, and if something goes wrong, they might be sued, and their malpractice insurance coverage might be canceled, but the practice is widespread, legal, and ethical. There are just limits and risks to consider.