VA administrators attempt to scuttle legislation to protect patients Wed, 30 Apr 2003 The Alliance for Human Research Protection received the following confidential Veterans Affairs communication describing efforts by VA administrators to scuttle a congressional bill whose aim is to ensure that research conducted at VA facilities is overseen by…
Research at US Veterans Hospitals Nationwide Under Investigation_NYT Sun, 13 Apr 2003 Veterans returning from service in the military deserve better than the medical care that awaits them at the nation’s Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. The Associated Press reported on Friday, April 11, that a study shows that patients…
Risperdal Linked to Stroke; Zyprexa linked to Diabetes Fri, 11 Apr 2003 Two highly promoted, best selling neuroleptic drugs (also called, antipsychotics) are linked to life-threatening drug-induced conditions. The Boston Globe reports (below) that elderly people who are prescribed Risperdal are at increased risk of stroke. The manufacturer, Johnson and…
FDA Requests Fed Investigation Of Itself After It Lost Medical Records Wed, 16 Apr 2003 FDA Commissioner, Dr. Mark McClelan has requested an independent investigation of a bone density study conducted jointly by an FDA investigator and another affiliated with the Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine….
Artificial Heart experiment without informed consent? Wed, 30 Apr 2003 The manufacturer of an artificial heart, Abiomed, are seeking to use incapacitated patients who suffered a massive heart attack as human subjects without their informed consent. Does anyone have the moral or legal right to subject a human being to…
Psychiatric Drugs Pushing Children to Crisis Units_Tampa Tribune Tue, 15 Apr 2003 A report in the Tampa Tribune following its five month investigation, shows how misprescribing of psychiatric drugs for children can precipitate life-threatening tragedies. The report describes a 9 year old child’s descent into suicidal violence after she had…
GAO Found CDC Supervision of Bioagents Weak Wed, 4 Dec 2002 The Scientist reports that on Nov. 22, the General Accounting Office (GAO) sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services reporting that its auditors spotted “significant management weaknesses” in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…
Japan Links 81 Deaths to new Lung Cancer Drug Thu, 5 Dec 2002 Now a days, the fate of a drug depends not so much on its efficacy and safety, but rather on the financial needs of the manufacturer and the company’s ability to round up an “independent” panel of…
When Doctors Go to Class, Industry Often Foots the Bill – WSJ Fri, 6 Dec 2002 A front page article in The Wall Street Journal by Scott Hensley sheds further light on the corruption of medical ethics by focusing on a drug marketing ploy that is promoted as “continuing medical…
Will 2 to 5 year old Amer. kids be exposed to Smallpox Vaccine? Israeli Intelligence says “No immediate threat” Sat, 28 Dec 2002 What is the Administration’s final decision regarding the proposed smallpox vaccine trial that would expose 40 children aged 2 to 5 years old to a controversial live…
Science Reporters Don’t Notice Conflicts of Interest Tue, 3 Dec 2002 An article by Neil Munro, in The Washington Monthly (below) exposes a journalistic failure by major science reporters. By examining how The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Chicago Tribune have reported stem cell and cloning research,…
Vaccine Renaissance Outpaces Drug Industry Thu, 5 Dec 2002 For those who had doubts about a financial motivation behind the thrust to vaccinate the population, Reuters reports that the vaccine industry is “launching a new phase” of marketing. Vaccines are outpacing drugs in terms of sales growth–$6.5 billion annually. Spokespersons…
