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on December 14, 2013
This book contains everything patients, doctors, journalists, and policy makers need to know about the pharmaceutical industry. It would be difficult if not impossible to find a more comprehensive book on the problems with developing, studying, regulating, and selling drugs. This is a subject that directly affects every person on earth on a daily basis and yet almost everyone remains blissfully uninformed. I honestly believe if more people knew about and understood the contents of this book, the world would be a much better place.
on December 19, 2012
This analysis is a devastatingly clear indictment of the perverse incentives of the whole drug industry. Ben simply chronicles public research, court cases and examples of bad practice and regulations that could be changed but are not because of clever lobbying of vested interests.
I particularly liked the suggestions for fixing the problems at the end of each chapter, but can see that they do not have a hope of being implemented by the current regulators, dispensers and doctors.
I discussed it with a pharmacist who claimed that she was impervious to the marketing and spin, but that doctors were not.
If only more medical journalists read this book before writing up another farcical case promoted by compromised pressure groups we might reduce our costs and get a bit of integrity back into research.
Sponsored research seems a particular problem at the root of a lot of the distortion. If government funds were spent on compulsory reviews and independent research we might get somewhere. New Zealand's Pharmac is a model that is extremely unpopular with drug companies that should be implemented in every country as a start.
I particularly liked the suggestions for fixing the problems at the end of each chapter, but can see that they do not have a hope of being implemented by the current regulators, dispensers and doctors.
I discussed it with a pharmacist who claimed that she was impervious to the marketing and spin, but that doctors were not.
If only more medical journalists read this book before writing up another farcical case promoted by compromised pressure groups we might reduce our costs and get a bit of integrity back into research.
Sponsored research seems a particular problem at the root of a lot of the distortion. If government funds were spent on compulsory reviews and independent research we might get somewhere. New Zealand's Pharmac is a model that is extremely unpopular with drug companies that should be implemented in every country as a start.
on November 29, 2015
EXCELLENT BOOK!!!! As a medical professional, I was afraid it was going to be conspiracy theory-laden...and was very pleasantly surprised. I'm using this book as a basis for a lecture on medical ethics to pre-med undergraduates, because there's a lot of helpful information in it to help them avoid bad information and minimize bias. Highly recommended.
on December 22, 2015
I have given this book to my friends wife who though I was a fool when asking her at a party if she thought that the drug companies were doing more harm than good these days.
I think I wrote on the inscription saying that, you should turn off the netflix long enough. Your educations not over.
This book is an eye opener. A must read for any MD or conspiracy theorist. The drug companies do some strange things to push new products on the market. Very good read. Must buy.
I think I wrote on the inscription saying that, you should turn off the netflix long enough. Your educations not over.
This book is an eye opener. A must read for any MD or conspiracy theorist. The drug companies do some strange things to push new products on the market. Very good read. Must buy.
on April 16, 2013
The information in this book is absolutely necessary for anyone contemplating or taking a drug, or whose loved one is contemplating or taking a drug. It is incredible how our current sick-care system has so many problems, but one of the most frightening is the fact that NO ONE BUT THE DRUG COMPANIES can know (and then, only sort of) what the real effects might be--both beneficial and potentially harmful--of any drug. The complete failure, from the probably naive points of view of safety and efficacy, of the drug-development system from Step 1 through delivery to a patient is phenomenal. The fact that prescribing doctors can never know the real history, and thus potential impact on you, of a particular drug was illuminating. Yes, the author repeats several messages, but with this kind of message I didn't mind. His writing is direct, succinct, lively and engaging. He is careful to document and cite references. Even if 50% of what he writes is inaccurate (and I have no reason to believe it is), most drug development today is a crime. We need the civil rights movement that Otis Brawley recommends in reforming the delivery of "health care", in which every citizen works for reform.
on August 25, 2013
As a retired physician this clear expose rings bells. I knew that the drug companies were in business to sell their drugs. I knew it well enough not to allow detail persons in to my office most of the time. I was still accosted by these charming people in the hospital and elsewhere. I truly had no idea of the extent of their influence nor the effectiveness of their methods. This book does a thoughtful job of portraying their methods. At times a bit too much repetitive detail but for the most part I can only say well done.
on June 4, 2015
Ben Goldacre here presents an expose of how pharmaceutical companies routinely cheat when researching and reporting on the drugs they make...and which doctors prescribe to us. With misleading test results, write- ups by guest doctors, testing of drugs against placebos, and failing to report test results that don't support the product, doctors are flying blind when prescribing, and we the patients may be guinea pigs. Read this book, tell your doctor to read it, and hope that the drug you are prescribed is as good as it's made out to be
on August 24, 2016
The author provides an evidence based perspective to the the problems in the medical-pharmaceutical-research industry while being as objective as he can and shying away from hyperbolic sensationalist half-truths. The author clearly documents when evidence is weak and is mostly expressing an opinion. Highly recommend as a way to obtain "the other side of the story" which is promulgated to the average person through the marketing efforts of the pharmaceutical industry as well as the blind trust in their doctor.
on July 3, 2015
Goldacre is a very intelligent and ethical physician and does not mind exposing all of the different ways that Big Pharma manipulates drug studies to make the drugs appear to perform better and they have no problem supressing information regarding side effects and poor performance by a drug. Tamiflu is a good example of both practices.
The book is a little tetious to read initially but is definitely a good read for most who interested in the practices of the pharmaceutical industry.
The book is a little tetious to read initially but is definitely a good read for most who interested in the practices of the pharmaceutical industry.
