Drugmakers "Blackmail the Public"

Drugmakers "Blackmail the Public"

http://www.businessweek.com:/print/technology/content/aug2004/tc20040818_7567_tc121.htm?tc

Author Marica Angell says her research shows their huge influence over Congress, the FDA, and doctors is harming Americans

After she stepped down in June, 2000, as interim editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Dr. Marcia Angell decided to write a book about biases in clinical trials. As she was doing her research and writing, she realized that "all roads led back to drug companies." Angell decided there was a bigger story to tell -- about the vast influence the pharmaceutical industry has over how medicine is practiced today.

During her 20-year career at NEJM, Angell had watched drugmakers expand their sway. They became the main sponsors of clinical testing and physician education and are also a critical source of funding for the Food & Drug Administration. "I finally decided just to bite the bullet and write about [the industry]." The result is The Truth about Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It, which arrives in bookstores in late August.

Last Updated on 08/23/04 webmaster@namiscc.org

Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations. We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (©) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.