Conflict of Interest / Pharma Influence
“Cochrane Announces Support of New Donor” This may be the last straw in dissolving the illusion of scientific integrity i n reviews published by the Cochrane Collaboration group. With a $1.15 million “donation” – chicken feed for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – they have purchased the Cochrane seal…
Proponents of genetically engineered / modified (GE/GM, GMO) food often characterize the debate as one of science versus superstition. The implication is that those opposed to GE/GMOs are irrational anti-science cranks or they are misguided by religious ideas. In fact, most of the opposition to the use of GE in…
Genetic engineering – the experimental process of manipulating an organism’s genetic core (DNA) – including insertion of genes from one species into another – is one of the most polarizing issues in medicine and in food production. Genetically engineered (GE) a.k.a. genetically modified/manipulated (GM) food crops are hailed by its…
Monsanto has earned a reputation as “the most evil company in the world.” It earned its bad reputation as a result of the company’s uninterrupted history of using massive amounts of toxic poisons that pollute the earth, the rivers and the environment; and it earned its reputation with its ruthless…
The difficulty of identifying academic experts who have not crossed over to the commercially funded research was acknowledged by Dr. Marcia Angell, just before she relinquished her position as editor of The New England Journal of Medicine (“Is Academic Medicine for Sale?” 2000). It is now openly discussed by journal…
Lots of babies get measles in Africa and India, and it is a significant cause of death there. A great deal of work has gone into developing measles vaccines that can be given to children at younger and younger ages, especially in Africa, for this reason. But in the United…
Posted by Meryl Nass, MD Swine flu vaccine-induced narcolepsy is costing European governments over $1 Billion due to liability waivers for manufacturers; and the same waivers were just issued for Ebola vaccines. The UK is paying out about $1.7 million dollars per victim. Although the media rarely reported on the…
Anthrax Vaccine: Its checkered history, excessive stockpile and the human and financial costs By Meryl Nass, MD* The current vaccine (Biothrax, manufactured by Emergent Biosolutions or EBS) has never been proved effective in humans. One human trial took place in the 1950s using a different, Merck-manufactured anthrax vaccine. Efficacy studies…
Part III. The Untouchable Third Rail in Healthcare—The Vaccine Controversy: Core Issues
America’s healthcare system is riddled with financial conflicts of interest. Business interests and commercial priorities undermine the precautionary principle of Medicine, the therapeutic mission of Medicine, the scientific integrity of Medicine. Government oversight agencies and Congress have subordinated the public interest for $$$. As a result, America’s healthcare delivery system is the third leading cause of death.
The decision to suspend the trial is viewed as highly questionable, raising disturbing questions about the role that marketing played–especially in light of the fact that Zytiga’s patent is due to expire in 2017.
The latest area of controversy focuses on the proposed revision of the definition "behavioral addiction disorder" extending the addiction diagnosis to include drug, alcohol and gambling. It is estimated that the change would expand the number of people labeled as "addicts" by 20 to 30 million who would be entitled to treatment and disability payments costing taxpayers many hundreds of millions of dollars.
