Technology assessment in a user perspective--experiences with drug technology.

Drugs have a central place among medical technologies, and medical technology assessment can learn from the established regulation of drug technology. This article outlines how users' experiences are not part of the basis on which decisions are made today, although this knowledge is imperative for identifying the problems that are not uncovered or foreseen by today's drug assessments. Further, users' interests might not be part of assessments that are based on the controlled clinical trial. A framework for drug technology assessments based on a user perspective is suggested.