In: Math
Many consumer groups feel that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug approval process is too easy and, as a result, too many drugs are approved that are later found to be pushed for a more lenient approval process so that pharmaceutical companies can get new drugs approved more easily and quickly. Consider a null hypothesis that a new, unapproved drug is unsafe and an alternative hypothesis that a new, unapproved drug is safe.
The hypotheses are
a) Type 1 error is made when we wrongly reject a null hypothesis which is true. In this case we would be making a type 1 error if a new drug is declared safe, when if fact the new, unapproved drug is not safe.
Type 2 error is made when we wrongly accept a null hypothesis which is false. In this case we would be making a type 2 error if a new drug is declared unsafe, when if fact the new, unapproved drug is safe.
b) When FDA commits a type 1, it risks approving a new drug that is not safe and there by having a potential adverse effect on the patient treated using this new drug.
When FDA commits a type 2, it risks not approving a new drug that is safe and there by denying a patient the treatment that could potentially be beneficial and also denying the industry a potential source of revenue.
c) The consumer groups are trying to avoid type 1 error as it has adverse impact on the patient who is treated using such a drug.
d) Industry lobbyists are trying to avoid type 2 error as it can deny the industry a potential source of revenue.