FDA to crash medical app development party

More than 40,000 medical apps are now available for download to smartphones or tablets, and government regulators have taken notice.

In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) crafted a set of guidelines that would require developers of mobile apps making medical claims to apply for FDA approval. The developers are balking and argue that government intervention will smother innovation, according to a report in Kaiser Health News. Regulators counter that without an independent review, it is impossible to know which apps are providing the most accurate information to physicians and consumers.