Health

Senators Just Say Whoa To Drug "Education"

by Diane Farsetta — January 13, 2006 - 5:04pm

"A Congressional investigation of the money that drug companies give as supposed educational grants has found that the payments are growing rapidly and are sometimes steered by marketing executives to doctors and groups who push unapproved uses of drugs." In 2004, 23 drug companies spent $1.47 billion on educational grants, a 20 percent increase from 2003. The U.S.

Main Source: 
New York Times, January 11, 2006

Pfizer Controls the Healthcare Debate

by Diane Farsetta — January 11, 2006 - 6:40pm

Bringing "together politicians and academics on different ends of the political spectrum to participate in forums on health policy," with the goal of reforming "the nation's healthcare system" sounds like a good idea. But the organizer is the drug company Pfizer, through its public affairs agency, Spectrum Science Communications.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), January 11, 2006

Taking Researcher-Industry Conflicts To Heart

by Diane Farsetta — December 28, 2005 - 1:05pm

 

"After learning that researchers for two studies it published this year didn't reveal financial ties to the maker of heart-surgery equipment that they evaluated favorably," the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery decided to go beyond publishing corrections that "reveal the

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), December 28, 2005

A Cancer Risk Conveniently Lost in Translation

by Diane Farsetta — December 27, 2005 - 3:33pm

A groundbreaking public health study by Chinese doctor Zhang JianDong in 1987 was used by U.S. regulatory agencies "as evidence that a form of" the chemical chromium "might cause cancer." Ten years later, "a 'clarification and further analysis' published under his name in a U.S. medical journal said there was no cancer link to chromium." But "Dr.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal, December 23, 2005

The Not-So-Sunshine State

by Diane Farsetta — December 20, 2005 - 1:31pm

"The monitoring of pesticide use in Florida has become make-believe. It is Disney-esque," said Alex Simons, a former environmental specialist for Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Main Source: 
Palm Beach Post (Florida), December 19, 2005

As the Smoke Clears, Philip Morris Ruling Questioned

by Diane Farsetta — December 16, 2005 - 5:17pm

On December 15, the Illinois Supreme Court threw out a $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris and its parent company, Altria Group, saying they did not mislead consumers when advertising "light" cigarettes.

Main Source: 
Chicago Tribune, December 16, 2005

Giving Up the Ghostwriters

by Diane Farsetta — December 13, 2005 - 2:12pm

"Many of the articles that appear in scientific journals under the byline of prominent academics are actually written by ghostwriters in the pay of drug companies." Used by doctors "to guide their care of patients," these "seemingly objective articles ... are often part of a marketing campaign." The New England Journal of Medicine recently revealed that a 2000 article on Vioxx "omitted information about heart attacks among patients taking the drug.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), December 13, 2005

PR and Lobbying a Shot in the Arm for BioPort

by Diane Farsetta — December 12, 2005 - 5:33pm

The only licensed U.S. anthrax vaccine maker, BioPort, turned government contracts into "a gold mine," with help from the "right lobbyists and public relations professionals," writes Bob Evans.

Main Source: 
Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia), December 9, 2005

Battle of the Childhood Bulge

by Diane Farsetta — December 7, 2005 - 3:41pm
Cover of the IOM report

"We can't any more argue whether food advertising is related to children's diets.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), December 7, 2005

Bush Administration Seeks to Cut Back Right-to-Know Laws

by Laura Miller — December 6, 2005 - 9:57pm

Due to a proposed rewriting of the nation's environmental right-to-know law, thousands of communities stand to lose access to information on toxic chemicals that are released into their neighborhoods.

Main Source: 
OMB Watch Press Release, November 15, 2005
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