Red Flags - Scream

Rebelling Physicians Demand Restrictions On Sale Of Prescribing Data

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:50:42 -0400

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Rebelling Physicians Demand Restrictions On Sale Of Prescribing Data

Description:

“Since the early 1990s, health care information companies have bought electronic records of prescriptions from pharmacies and other sources and linked them with information about doctors that is licensed from the Physician Masterfile of the American Medical Association (AMA). These information companies have then compiled and sold individual physicians’ prescribing data to pharmaceutical manufacturers. The business is lucrative. But a growing number of physicians have rebelled after becoming aware that drug companies have access to their data — in some cases because zealous sales agents have confronted them with their prescribing histories.”

Too Little Safety Data To Approve Gardasil For Young Girls: CDC Warned

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 00:55:25 -0400

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Too Little Safety Data To Approve Gardasil For Young Girls: CDC Warned

Description:

“The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) is calling on the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to just say "no" on June 29 to recommending "universal use" of Merck's Gardasil vaccine in all pre-adolescent girls. NVIC maintains that Merck's clinical trials did not prove the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts is safe to give to young girls.”

Unethical Drug Promotion Endangers Public Health

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:46:04 -0400

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Unethical Drug Promotion Endangers Public Health

Description:

“In a report that charts the scale of illicit practices by drug companies in the U.K. and across Europe, Consumers International — the world federation of consumer organizations — says people are not being given facts about the medicines they take because the companies hide the marketing tactics on which they spend billions.”

Are We Drugging Our Children Into Submission?

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:59:38 -0400

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Are We Drugging Our Children Into Submission?

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“Would I allow Ritalin or other similar drugs to be prescribed to my children because they fidgeted, squirmed in their seat or were inattentive? Hell would freeze over a thousand times before I’d submit to such idiocy. But today an estimated five million Canadian and U.S. children are prescribed medication for this condition.”

U.S. School Uses Electric Shock And Other Aversive Therapies On Autistic Children

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:33:51 -0400

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U.S. School Uses Electric Shock And Other Aversive Therapies On Autistic Children

Description:

“For many, the term “electric shock" conjures up images of science fiction or horror films. In the movie “One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest," men in sterile white coats held down terrified patients while affixing metal rods to their heads. Today, shock therapy and other controversial forms of so-called aversive therapy are used in centers across Southeastern Massachusetts on children with mental retardation and autism.”

See No Evil? Genentech Refuses To Licence Cheap Cure For Macular Degeneration

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:29:20 -0400

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See No Evil? Genentech Refuses To Licence Cheap Cure For Macular Degeneration

Description:

“A major drug company is blocking access to a medicine that is cheaply and effectively saving thousands of people from going blind because it wants to launch a more expensive product on the market.”

U.K. Docs Opt Out Of Vaccinations For Kids With Poor Addresses

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 19:27:15 -0400

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U.K. Docs Opt Out Of Vaccinations For Kids With Poor Addresses

Description:

“Fears of a major epidemic were expressed last night as it emerged that tens of thousands of children are missing out on vaccinations as a result of a postcode lottery created by Labour policies. New figures have revealed that 60 times more family doctors in the poorest parts of the country have stopped offering vaccinations than those in the leafy suburbs.”

Counterfeit Malaria Drug Compromises Disease Control

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 19:26:30 -0400

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Counterfeit Malaria Drug Compromises Disease Control

Description:

“Falciparum malaria kills, and it particularly kills the rural poor. Artemisinin derivatives, such as artesunate, are a vital component of Plasmodium falciparum malaria treatment and control in the face of globally increasing antimalarial drug resistance. Since 1998 a worsening epidemic of sophisticated counterfeit ‘artesunate’ tablets has plagued mainland Southeast Asia. . . . We make no apology for the use of the term manslaughter to describe this criminal lethal trade. Indeed, some might call it murder.”

Front-Line Psychotropic Drugs Can Cause Weight Gain, Diabetes

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:39:33 -0400

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Front-Line Psychotropic Drugs Can Cause Weight Gain, Diabetes

Description:

“A front page report in The New York Times describes a psychotropic drug-induced catastrophe that has befallen patients who obeyed their psychiatrists, and swallowed the antipsychotic drugs prescribed by psychiatrists who insisted the drugs were for the patients own good.

The truth, however, is inescapable — the cover-up no longer sustainable as thousands of patients with drug-induced diabetes come out of the shadows.”

Ontario Backs Down From Big Pharma

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 19:59:12 -0400

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Ontario Backs Down From Big Pharma

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“No one should be surprised that the Ontario government has backed away from plans to make prescription drugs cheaper. The legal drug trade is big and profitable. By threatening these profits, Health Minister George Smitherman made enemies.”

Misfiring Glucose Meters Send Deadly Message to Diabetics

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 20:53:09 -0400

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Misfiring Glucose Meters Send Deadly Message to Diabetics

Description:

“People with type 1 diabetes are at risk of overdosing on insulin and even slipping into a diabetic coma because of faulty blood glucose meters. The problem occurs when the display changes from millimoles per litre (mmol/L) to milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL). This can happen automatically, or when the user accidentally changes the units while in setup mode, in some cases leading to blood glucose readings apparently 18 times as high as the true level of blood glucose.”

Antipsychotic Drugs Prescribed For American Children Without Evidence Of Any Disorder

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 20:43:47 -0400

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Antipsychotic Drugs Prescribed For American Children Without Evidence Of Any Disorder

Description:

“A study published today finds that doctors are using antipsychotic drugs to treat children and teens at a rapidly rising rate, often without evidence of any psychotic disorder. The majority of such prescriptions are for drugs that have not been approved for treating children and adolescents.”

Study Debunking Chromium-Cancer Link Proves Fraudulent

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:41:26 -0400

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Study Debunking Chromium-Cancer Link Proves Fraudulent

Description:

“In a real-life epilogue to "Erin Brockovich," a peer-reviewed medical journal will retract a fraudulent article written and placed by a science-for-hire consulting firm whose CEO sits on a key federal toxics panel. The retraction follows a six-month internal review by the journal, prompted by an Environmental Working Group investigation.”

Prozac May Be A Hazard To Your Health Insurance

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 18:50:24 -0400

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Prozac May Be A Hazard To Your Health Insurance

Description:

“Sure, you can get the help you need to handle depression, anxiety or even something as common as hay fever. But should you ever need to buy an individual health policy, you're likely to find that insurers consider you high-risk or even untouchable.”

Patient Groups Hide Ties To Drug Companies

Wed, 31 May 2006 20:13:31 -0400

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Patient Groups Hide Ties To Drug Companies

Description:

“The American Diabetes Association, a leading patient health group, privately enlisted an Eli Lilly & Co. executive to chart its growth strategy and write its slogan.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, an outspoken patient advocate, lobbies for treatment programs that also benefit its drug-company donors.”