The government uses an invisible wall of barriers to protect its citizens and ensure that the products for sale in the market are safe to be consumed for the public. This invisible wall is known as government regulation and it is only found on the pages of legislature and is primarily controlled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Regulations bring upon many benefits to the public including their own well being, but it can sometimes be seen as harmful to the eyes of the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs rely on taking a risk when value is expected post production and the value outweighs the cost. However, even with beneficial innovation and positive hindsight results it can possibly not be enough to create a legal marketplace. The Dallas Buyers Club portrayed that when a product provides enough value to an individual in need, they will possibly go out of their way and potentially even break the law to do so. For example, take the continuous cycle of illegal narcotics in the country. The consumers of these drugs are most definitely aware of the legal risk when purchasing such substances. They are fine with the risk because sadly they are more concerned with the personal satisfaction of the substances. Ron Woodruff and his Dallas Buyers Club illustrates a much similar construct to the topic we just touched on above, but this time the drugs are contributing positive health benefits to the consumer's illness. The only question now is if these drugs should deserve a similar legal regulation.
Ron Woodruff was diagnosed with HIV and was given approximately thirty days to live before his assumed death. After trials and tribulations, Ron admitted his diagnosis and started seeking for potential medications to increase his health. He gained insight on a potential new medication that is currently going through clinical trials before it is released to the public. He eventually obtains it illegally which shows the desire of individuals whose life is on the line due to effective regulation. Ron discovers other alternate medications while getting treated in Mexico and comes up with a business venture to solve the problems of similar people in the states. This is of course when the government steps in to penalize Mr. Woodruff for his actions. Ron sees an immediate need for his product and proceeds to help the public because he believes the current drugs being clinically tested are harmful to the body. Ron avoids these regulations by creating buyers club memberships to supply the drugs. Even though his product is unapproved, it is not considered illegal and can still be obtained by anyone willing to sign the waiver. Entrepreneurs use this tactic oftentimes to not bypass the regulation, but simply cause it to be ineffective through alternative options such as a buyers club and not a hospital. This only causes more regulation and pressure on entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas.
The Federal Drug Administration is a crucial public service that does plenty of great things for our well beings. It ensures that we are safe while partaking in our everyday lives in terms of food and medicine. With that being said, the FDA eventually keeps creating more laws and prohibits items and eventually innovation of new technologies and advancements. For in terms of medication, if a dying patient is using medication that can possibly restore their health it should not be deemed illegal to do so. This is of course an ethical claim, but Ron expressed this by calling the doctor a murder for getting his medicine taken away. Regulation should overall keep the public safe while keeping an ethical viewpoint. This would not only benefit society but also benefit entrepreneurs expeditions legally. Therefore regulations primarily benefit society but harms the entrepreneurial standpoint of new ideas.
