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Alexander M. Schmidt, MD
Commissioner of Food and Drugs Food and Drug Administration

JAMA. 1975;231(10):1027.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

For reasons of fairness, the Food and Drug Administration has adopted a policy of strict "separation of functions" with respect to all matters subject to formal public hearings. In these matters, the Bureau acts as the advocate for its position in the hearing held before the Administrative Law Judge, and the office of the Commissioner is precluded from any contact with the Bureau on that matter after the notice of hearing has been published in the Federal Register. After the hearing is completed, the Administrative Law Judge transmits the record, together with his recommendations, to me for a decision. I act, in this capacity, in the same way as does a judge who hears a case tried before him. I am precluded from any discussion of the matter that might be construed as prejudgment, from any contact with the Bureau or any other party, or from consideration . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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