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A leading medical expert explains why too many of the medications Americans take are poorly evaluated, overpriced, or pose unwarranted risks - and what we can do to fix that.Groundbreaking research has given us many remarkable new medicines, but America's drug evaluation process, once the envy of the world, is being seriously compromised. Under pressure from drugmakers, the FDA has been lowering its approval standards and has let poorly effective or risky products enter the market - while our prescription prices, the highest in the world, put crucial treatments beyond the reach of many. In Rethinking Medications, Dr. Jerry Avorn explains how we got here and what we can do to ensure that our medicines are dependably effective, safe, and affordable. Part of the problem is the power of pharma's biggest-in-Washington lobbying clout, which influences members of Congress from both parties.