The case of BiDil: a policy commentary on race and genetics

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of BiDil unleashed a vigorous commentary, mostly critical of the decision. The FDA was soon caught between biologists, who see research and clinical utility in using racial classifications, and social scientists (and many politicians), who fear the adversities of greater discrimination. Analyses rarely addressed the practical factors the FDA had to consider in reaching a decision. Much of the literature simply assigned the question to the domain of racial politics, failing to consider the ethics of professional care, the Hippocratic oath, and the marketplace efficiency in moving drugs quickly to those who might most benefit.