Regarding drug prices, there's also Sam Peltzman's book "Regulation of Pharmaceutical Innovation" where he shows with statistics how the 1962 FDA amendments have caused large price increases in drugs while greatly reducing innovation. Such lack of innovation means many cures are never developed, indirectly resulting in harm to patients.
The question is whether this indirect harm is greater or less than the direct benefit of the 1962 mandate that drugs be "effective".
The question is whether this indirect harm is greater or less than the direct benefit of the 1962 mandate that drugs be "effective".