The Food and Drug Administration recently reported that prescription drug shortages in the United States tripled from 2005 to 2010.
A number of things explain that -- mainly manufacturing problems, delays in shipping and production, and a shortage of some key ingredients.
But it was troubling when the Obama administration recently ordered federal regulators to start collecting information on whether drug shortages are leading to "price gouging" and "hoarding" of lifesaving drugs.
With some Americans having died when they did not receive in a timely manner the medications that they needed, suggestions that one or more parties are purposely withholding drugs from the market are extremely serious.
Such suggestions should not be tossed about without some evidence that those activities are actually taking place. Yet the administration's statement on the matter implied -- without evidence -- that "gouging" is taking place.
That won't increase the supply of needed prescription drugs, but sadly it will create division and mistrust.