Ethics

Another Brick in Boral's Wall

by Bob Burton — November 30, 2009 - 5:07am

A major Australian building products company, Boral, has been forced to publish a full-page apology for its role in an astroturf campaign against BGC, which was seeking government approval for a new brickworks.

Main Source: 
Australian Financial Review, November 30, 2009 (registration req'd)

Medicare Part D Planners Now Fighting Health Insurance Reform

by Anne Landman — November 5, 2009 - 3:39pm

At least 25 former federal officials and legislative aides who helped draft the 2003 Medicare Part D drug benefit are now working as lobbyists for pharmaceutical interests trying and protect the lucrative drug payment system in negotiations for health care reform.

Main Source: 
Pro Publica, October 20, 2009

Marketing to Fear: Cocoa Krispies Boost Your Kids' Immunity?

by Anne Landman — November 3, 2009 - 2:39pm

In the middle of the H1N1 influenza epidemic, Kellogg is marketing Cocoa Krispies, Froot Loops and other sugary cereals with claims on the box that the cereal "now helps support your child's immunity." The word "immunity" is printed on the box in a huge font, almost as big as the name of the cereal.

Main Source: 
USA Today, November 2, 2009

Pinkwashing Turns on Itself with Breast Cancer Awareness Gun

by Anne Landman — November 3, 2009 - 1:54pm

October was Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the group Breast Cancer Action seized on the opportunity to promote its Think Before you Pink campaign to raise awareness of how companies are increasingly explo

Main Source: 
GunBroker.com, November 3, 2009

Stanford Historian Robert Proctor vs. R.J. Reynolds: A Lot on the Line

by Anne Landman — November 2, 2009 - 3:41pm
  • Topics: Ethics, Tobacco

    • History is unkind to tobacco companies, and never more so than since a federal court in 2006 found the industry guilty of perpetrating 50 years of fraud and deceit upon the American people. It's a sordid history to live down, and maybe that's why R.J. Reynolds is harassing one of the few historians who has been willing to step up and testify in court about the real history of the tobacco industry's behavior: Professor Robert N. Proctor of Stanford University.

    U.S. Drone Strikes: A Propaganda Bonanza for the Taliban?

    by Anne Landman — October 26, 2009 - 12:50pm

    A recently-released study from the New America Foundation finds that after inheriting the drone program from President George W.

    Main Source: 
    FoxNews.com, October 26, 2009

    Philip Morris, RJR Lose Appeal, Must Pay $2.85 Million

    by Anne Landman — October 20, 2009 - 10:25pm

    California's First District Court of Appeals ruled unanimously to uphold a $2.85 million damage award against Philip Morris (PM) and R.J.

    Main Source: 
    San Francisco Chronicle, October 15, 2009

    This Is Going to Hurt: What Your Doctor Doesn't Say Can Cost You

    by Anne Landman — October 16, 2009 - 3:16pm
  • Topics: Economy, Ethics, Health

    • Insurance companies are hot targets right now in the debate over skyrocketing medical costs and health care reform. But there is another, little-noticed factor could also be sucking untold health care dollars out of our pockets, and it's one we seem loathe to address: the part that doctors themselves have in quietly pushing up the costs of our medical care. This is an area that is begging for closer scrutiny, and in which patients need more help.

    Burson-Marsteller's New PR Microtrend

    by Bob Burton — August 28, 2009 - 4:24am

    Mark Penn, the CEO of the PR firm Burson-Marsteller, is embroiled in controversy yet again.

    Main Source: 
    Gawker (U.S.), August 26, 2009

    Ghosts Selling Drugs

    by Sheldon Rampton — August 5, 2009 - 12:42pm

    "Newly unveiled court documents show that ghostwriters paid by a pharmaceutical company played a major role in producing 26 scientific papers backing the use of hormone replacement therapy in women," reports Natasha Singer. "The articles, published in medical journals between 1998 and 2005, emphasized the benefits and de-emphasized the risks" of Premarin and Prempro, two homone drugs produced by the Wyeth pharmaceutical company.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, August 4, 2009
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