Deadly Medicines And Organised Crime

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Deadly Medicines and Organised Crime: How Big Pharma Has Corrupted Healthcare is a critical examination of the pharmaceutical industry and its influence on healthcare systems. Authored by Peter C. Gøtzsche, a Danish medical researcher and a co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration, the book delves into the unethical practices of the pharmaceutical industry, including bribery, falsification of data, and other forms of corruption. Gøtzsche argues that these practices have not only compromised the integrity of the medical profession but have also resulted in the harm and death of patients.

Overview[edit | edit source]

The book begins by outlining the extent of the pharmaceutical industry's influence on healthcare, including its relationships with medical professionals, regulatory agencies, and academic institutions. Gøtzsche provides numerous examples of how pharmaceutical companies have manipulated clinical trials, hidden negative study results, and aggressively marketed drugs that were later found to be dangerous.

One of the key themes of the book is the comparison of the pharmaceutical industry's practices to those of organized crime, as suggested by the book's title. Gøtzsche argues that the scale and impact of the industry's actions warrant such a comparison, highlighting cases where companies have been fined significant amounts for illegal marketing practices, yet continue to operate in a similar manner due to the profits involved.

Critical Reception[edit | edit source]

Deadly Medicines and Organised Crime has received widespread attention and sparked debate within the medical community and beyond. Critics of the book acknowledge the importance of addressing the issues it raises but argue that Gøtzsche's comparison to organized crime may be overly sensational. Supporters, however, commend the book for its courageous examination of a difficult subject and its call for more stringent regulation of the pharmaceutical industry.

Impact[edit | edit source]

The publication of Deadly Medicines and Organised Crime has contributed to a growing discourse on the need for greater transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical industry. It has been cited in policy discussions and has influenced advocacy for changes in how drugs are tested, approved, and marketed. The book has also been used in medical education to highlight the ethical considerations in pharmaceutical medicine.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD