“US doctor smeared for raising drug concerns”
Snipped from NewScientist.com.
Well, here is more proof that our government has higher priorities in making money than protecting its citizens. Here the FDA has too quickly approved a drug for insulin resistance and diabetes. Now they are paying the price, but instead of just taking it off the shelves and admitting fault, what do they do? Yep, they try to keep it secret and scare physicians into staying quite about its deadly side effects. A good a smear campaign for anyone that is willing to speak up about safety.
Here is some of the linked article.
Steve Nissen, chair of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, investigated the safety of the diabetes drug Avandia, in a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine this March. Avandia is approved by the FDA, but Nissen found that it significantly increased the risk of heart attack. It was the latest blow to the FDA, which has been repeatedly criticised for failing to spot dangerous side effects.
According to ABC News, FDA spokesman Douglas Arbesfeld emailed health reporters drawing attention to a blog that accuses Nissen of focusing his criticism on drug manufacturers that do not run trials at the Cleveland Clinic.
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Do you think a strong, money lobby was behind getting the FDA to quickly approve this drug? There must be lobbies that deal with other than the Senate and Congressional members. Also, what happens when a drug company salesman comes calling on a doctor with his sample case full of goodies? Does the MD swallow the verbal pitch without ever reading the fine print literature that comes with a new drug?
Stan, I think the lines between regulation and politics have been so blurred that I don’t know what to think anymore. I almost feel like a “man without a country”. We, the people, have become an insignificant influence compared to big money. I don’t feel particularly optimistic about the plight of the average American citizen anymore. Things have changed.
As far as doctors are concerned, there are a few good ones but I would speculate with the exorbitant amount of money they make, the motivation to be a doctor is more about the big bucks than about patient care. And, yes doctors are influenced by drug sales people. I was one for a very short time and I couldn’t stand all the schmuzing, ass kissing and perks thrown at doctors.
Thanks for the comments. I feel you are right on.