Systemic Failure: Trump Administration's Pressure Forces FDA Chief to Resign Amid Fruity E-Cig Approval Scandal
Original framing: “FDA chief resigns after Trump admin forced approval of fruity e-cigs” — Ars Technica
The scandal surrounding the FDA's approval of fruity e-cigs is part of a long history of regulatory capture in the US. The 1978 Supreme Court decision in Buck v. Bell, which allowed for the forced sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities, is a precedent for the Trump administration's pressure on the FDA to approve e-cigarettes. This history highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of the structural causes of regulatory capture.
The scandal surrounding the FDA's approval of fruity e-cigs is a symptom of a broader crisis in regulatory capture and the influence of corporate lobbying on public health policy.
To address this crisis, we need to strengthen regulatory oversight, promote indigenous knowledge and traditional practices, address corporate lobbying and regulatory capture, and promote evidence-based policy making. This will require a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between power, privilege, and public institutions, as well as a commitment to greater inclusion and equity in policy making. The future of public health policy will depend on our ability to address these structural causes and promote a more just and equitable society.