INCLUDE MORE WOMEN IN DRUG TESTS.

• Position: Sex differences describe symptoms of diseases differently - Brief Article

A 1997 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposal to include more women in clinical drug and treatment trials is a step in the right direction, suggests Debra Siela, assistant professor of nursing, Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. "It's been a long, slow process, but people are finally realizing the importance of including women in medical research--and the potential dangers of leaving them out." Her research has looked at differences in how males and females describe symptoms of certain diseases. Understanding such differences may lead to more accurate diagnostic and treatment procedures for both men and women.

According to the FDA, voluntary compliance with 1993 guidelines encouraging the participation of women in trials has been insufficient. One possible reason is that many companies have been hesitant due to the potential of liability concerns. Fear of possible complications with women's health, particularly in their...