A response from Dr Siegel

[DaBrat]

I emailed Dr Siegal for suggestions on what I could do to advance the fight for ecig use. Basically, he thinks its a good idea to continue to contact he FDA and our reps with our personal stories disputing the fantsy land the FDA 'experts' seem to be living in.

 

[Sar]

I emailed Dr Siegal for suggestions on what I could do to advance the fight for ecig use. Basically, he thinks its a good idea to continue to contact he FDA and our reps with our personal stories disputing the fantsy land the FDA 'experts' seem to be living in.

FDA created an online form to get comments from people. However, note the following instruction from the FDA: "Health care professionals and consumers may report serious adverse events (side effects) or product quality problems with the use of e-cigarettes to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program..."

Someone on ECF in a different thread wrote a warning that FDA is not seeking "good" comments and it is very possible that if people use that form to report positive results, FDA can simply just count them as "problems" and claim that they received large XYZ number of complaints from people.

This could seriously hurt us.

Actually the Electronic Cigarette Association should be asking FDA to remove the restriction of reporting only "adverse events".

 

[wv2win]

It might be a good idea to swamp their "adverse effects" link with all the positive effects.

 

[dijohn76]

It might be a good idea to swamp their "adverse effects" link with all the positive effects.

Considering their current policy of "disinformation" I would really hesitate to do that because they could conceivably then come out and say they had had 10,000 calls on their "adverse effect" line and not tell anyone that they were all "positive" calls.

 

[TropicalBob]

Strongly suggest NOT posting "good effects" on a counter for negative side effects! Puhleez....

 

[Angela]

How about the ECA (or Dr Siegel or both) setting up a page to counter the FDA requesting negative responses, by requesting positive ones?

 

[TheIllustratedMan]

I still have to wonder.. what good is contacting our reps going to do? there isn't a bill proposed having anything to do with these devices. the only thing we could do is ask them to keep an ear to the ground...

 

[solonguniverse]

How about the ECA (or Dr Siegel or both) setting up a page to counter the FDA requesting negative responses, by requesting positive ones?

I think this is a great idea. Someone should be doing this anyway.

 

[Sar]

Well, the whole thing about FDA collecting reports about adverse effects of e-cigs may be a sham. They can't really do it in any fashion that could be considered fair or comprehensive:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/campaigning/29643-wsj-fda-unable-track-information.html

 

[DaBrat]

Ok I will ask Dr Seigel about that. Also got a response from Brad Radu who informs me that "These products are vastly safer than smoking and there is substantial evidence that the risks are very, very small."

So he repeats what Dr Siegel says: 'Spread the word to other smokers'

We all have enuff evidence to debunk what the FDA is putting out. If someone mentions the FDA's warning, ask if they REALLY read it and then point out those interesting facts.

HTH

 

[JohnR]

what good is contacting our reps going to do?

Writing your elected representatives is good basic lobbying on a grass roots level. They have to make note of what they receive and respond to it, in some form. If the issues of e-cig use, technology, safety, etc. etc. come on their radar, your input will be on record. This article has some good fundamentals.

Also the internet - Social media is a powerful tool. While this board and other's "rants" and pro-e-cig posts may appear to some to be counter productive they could provide an overwhelming online presence when anyone searches the topic - a deeply diverse and rich view into this phenomena that is much needed.

 

[Vocalek]

How about the ECA (or Dr Siegel or both) setting up a page to counter the FDA requesting negative responses, by requesting positive ones?

I keep referring folks to the Petition web site, where thousands of positive comments have already been collected.

 

[mnealtx]

And *WHAT* petition website would this be?

 

[katink]

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-life-saving-electronic-cigarettes-available
12.250 people have meanwhile signed. The more the better of course; and some of the comments are very much worth reading.