Would it be better to hush up device problems?

Regarding Karen's recent post on the broad implications of device recalls: considering that the latest defibrillator recalls may have caused more harm than good --by spurring unwarranted and dangerous device replacement and by deterring patients from getting the devices in the first place-- would it have caused less harm if the FDA hadn't reported anything publicly and if the devices weren't recalled?In the short term, at least the answer is probably yes. But there are ethical problems with holding the information too tightly, and longer term it could undermine faith in devices and the FDA in general. It also might keep device makers from being as careful as they could to avoid selling defective products.