"Deadly Spin" Coming November 9

by Anne Landman — November 1, 2010 - 5:31pm
  • Topics: Corporations, Health, Public Relations
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    CMD's Senior Fellow on Health Care, Wendell PotterThe Center for Media and Democracy's Senior Fellow on Health Care, Wendell Potter, has a new tell-all book coming out November 9, Deadly Spin: An insurance company insider speaks out on how corporate PR is killing health care and deceiving Americans. The book details disinformation campaigns that health insurers use to cover up their misdeeds and manipulate public policy, reveals insurers' public relations tricks, like commissioning bogus scientific studies, working through fake "grassroots" organizations, and disseminating rhetoric designed to scare the public. (Think phrases like "socialism" and "death panels," that Wendell reveals were created by health insurance companies.) Wendell tells about the methods insurers use to "dump the sick," discusses the skyrocketing premiums and high deductibles that are putting health care out of reach for working people, and discloses the outrageous salaries that insurance companies executives make while denying care to patients. As the former head of Corporate Communications for CIGNA, Wendell is uniquely to qualified bring this important information to the public. The book, published by Bloomsbury, can be ordered at Amazon.com.

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    URGENT: What time at the press club?

    Submitted by Marjorie Salwin (not verified) on November 8, 2010 - 7:01pm.

    At what time does this book talk by Wendell Potter take place at the Press Club on Nov. 9, 2010? Details, details. What do you expect us to do? Camp out all day on 14th Street like a troupe of streetwalkers?

    Thank you for my Alan Grayson moment but I DO need an answer. ASAP.

    Gracias.

    Margarita

    5:30 PM Nov. 9 at the Press Club

    Submitted by Anne Landman on November 9, 2010 - 9:45am.

    Wendell's book appearance schedule on the lower right side of this Web site, for those who want to see him!

    Anne Landman

    Deadly Spin

    Submitted by Xana (not verified) on November 8, 2010 - 12:08pm.

    It sound like a great read and I cant say I am surprised by the suggested contents of the book.

    There is far too much money invested in the industry for people to do everything they can to stop progress and full disclosure.

    Its the same with all those class actions and a bean counter reckoning its better to take a few deaths and payout that recall the car. Hopefully those days are in the past

    However from the suggested contents of the book maybe not

    Wendell Potter's Book, "Deadly Spin"

    Submitted by Perry Chapdelaine, MD, MSPH (not verified) on November 4, 2010 - 7:41am.

    As a practicing, board-certified, Preventive Medicine Physician, I daily work in the trenches with people struggling to maintain their health, coping with inordinate stress, and facing egregious treatment by insurance companies. There is no doubt that the greed of these Wall Street favorites (along with drug companies) is in large part responsible for the health-care financing debacle. It is my understanding that insurance companies, drug companies and others in the sick-care business spent over half-a-billion dollars this year alone influencing congress in the healthcare reform bill legislation.

    The Center for Media and Democracy’s Senior Fellow on Health Care, Wendell Potter, is one of my heroes. He reflects my own disappointment and outrage at the utter disregard by the bought-off Senators and Representatives whose legacy will be largely disparaged throughout history. The gutting of sanity from the so-called “compromise” senate bill this year was ludicrous. Does it really stop insurance companies from refusing coverage for pre-existing conditions, assure decreased premiums for businesses and families; offer a competitive choice to the sick, crass insurance and drug company businesses whose monopoly is running, and ruining, this once-noble country?

    Obama, in his inaugural address, said, “America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”

    It were far better that Obama braved the icy currents of insanity (as displayed by such small-minded corporate/political types who are shaking every penny from the most of us), by fighting for what is right rather than what is expedient - and lost his second term - than to leave this awful legacy of dashed hope, despair and death once more to our children’s children.

    I look forward to Wendell Potter’s book. He is the principal reason I contributed recently to the Center for Media and Democracy. Bless you, Mr. Potter, for your own courage to say what needed to be said.