Satirical View of FDA's Approval of Marketing Leeches

By Bruce Kluger,

David Slavin

Published June 29, 2004 at 12:00 AM EDT

Satirists Bruce Kluger and David Slavin find humor in the announcement that a French company is the first since 1976 to receive clearance to market leeches as medical devices in the United States. Leeches are already widely used in American hospitals, and companies that sold them before 1976 were allowed to continue doing so. Kluger and Slavin create a commercial for the product.

Bruce Kluger

Bruce Kluger and David Slavin began writing satire for NPRs All Things Considered in 2002, after their initial attempts at collaboration -- brokering a Mideast peace accord and mapping the human genome -- proved unsuccessful.

David Slavin

David Slavin and Bruce Kluger began writing satire for NPR's All Things Considered in 2002, after their initial attempts at collaboration — brokering a Mideast peace accord and mapping the human genome — proved unsuccessful.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Donate