The New York Times reports that “drug maker Merck drafted dozens of research studies for a best-selling drug, then lined up prestigious doctors to put their names on the reports before publication, according to an article to be published Wednesday in a leading medical journal.”
And it was only lawyers that brought this to light NOT the researchers, writers of the article, or medical profession. Medical and drug company apologists Ben Goldacre, pharmacologist David Colquhoun, Andy Lewis and drug company representatives on the gimpyblog continually attack health alternatives like homeopathy. They defend conventional medicine as self regulating and with only a few minor problems. In fact, they are working hard to prevent you from having the right to alternative medical care.
Their attack on your right to alternative medical care only increases and protects the lucrative position of drug companies. Unfortunately, in order to consolidate their position and the drug companys’ domain they spread internet rumors and theories without ANY PROOF that homeopathy is as they describe it, “dangerous” and “evil”. They also use many nasty words to describe homeopaths and homeopathic teachers.
Homeopathy is safe and effective for both chronic and acute problems. Homeopaths are individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping sick people through alternative means than what is available in the conventional medical profession. Homeopathic remedies are individualized to people and have no side effects. They are effective, safe and can even cure many serious diseases without the side effects that one saw in Vioxx and many other drugs. Millions of people have and continue to use homeopathic remedies and see homeopathic practitioners.
The New York Times article continues:
The article, based on documents unearthed in lawsuits over the pain drug Vioxx, provides a rare, detailed look in the industry practice of ghostwriting medical research studies that are then published in academic journals.
The article cited one draft of a Vioxx research study that was still in want of a big-name researcher, identifying the lead writer only as “External author?”
Vioxx was a best-selling drug before Merck took it off the market in 2004 over evidence linking it to heart attacks. Last fall, the company agreed to a $4.85 billion settlement to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits filed by former Vioxx patients or their families.
May 1, 2008 at 4:21 am
[...] its standards effectively prevent dangerous drugs and procedures from coming to market! Look at Vioxx, many implants and techniques and recently simple cough syrups and lets not forget thalidomide. [...]