Good morning.  I am a parent of a 6 year old who suffers from asthma.  We are very conscientious parents and we closely adhere to the medical advice, instructions, and advice of our medical doctors.  We have been treating her asthma regularly for the past 3 years since she was diagnosed.  Historically, her symptoms typically flare-up during the winter (cold weather induced) and during the spring (allergy induced).  In accordance with our doctors instructions, we treat accordingly.  As ABC has previously reported, the FDC has replaced CFC albuterol inhalers with HFA inhalers out of concern with the effect on the ozone.  Although I am very concerned about the ozone, I am more concerned about the welfare of my child.  Treating my daughter with the new inhalers has not been as effective as the CFC inhalers.  She continues to wheeze and cough during her mild asthma attacks even after using the emergency treatment. Ultimately, In my exploration of alternatives, I learned that we were not alone in our experiences with the new HFA inhalers.  I am attaching a link to the consumeraffairs website which lists hundreds of asthma patients self-reports of their experiences with the new inhalers.  I am most concerned that the pharmaceutical industry and FDC may not be doing enough to address the asthma patients concerns, further, I am insulted at the continued insistence that asthma patients and their caregivers (me personally) are not "using the medication and device correctly".  The bottom line -- is does not appear to work effectively, and lives are at risk.  Can ABC news, or any one of it's affiliates (20/20 perhaps) do some type of follow-up report on what the FDC is (or IS NOT) doing in response to these concerns.  I am afraid that when I truly need the medicine and device for one of my daughter's most severe attacks, that it will not dispense the medicine in sufficient quantity to save her life... but it will save the ozone!  Can someone explore this topic and debate further.  Can you offer your expert medical opinion on this matter?  Thank you for your feedback.

Link to the consumer affairs webpage for complaints about the change: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/health/hfa_inhalers.html

A truly concerned father,

Kevin E.

Ewing, New Jersey