April 13, 200620 yr Drugs companies 'inventing diseases to boost their profits' By Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent London Times | April 11, 2006 PHARMACEUTICAL companies are systematically creating diseases in order to sell more of their products, turning healthy people into patients and placing many at risk of harm, a special edition of a leading medical journal claims today. The practice of “diseasemongering” by the drug industry is promoting non-existent illnesses or exaggerating minor ones for the sake of profits, according to a set of essays published by the open-access journal Public Library of Science Medicine. The special issue, edited by David Henry, of Newcastle University in Australia, and Ray Moynihan, an Australian journalist, reports that conditions such as female sexual dysfunction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and “restless legs syndrome” have been promoted by companies hoping to sell more of their drugs. Other minor problems that are a normal part of life, such as symptoms of the menopause, are also becoming increasingly “medicalised”, while risk factors such as high cholesterol levels or osteoporosis are being presented as diseases in their own right, according to the editors. “Disease-mongering turns healthy people into patients, wastes precious resources and causes iatrogenic (medically induced) harm,” they say. “Like the marketing strategies that drive it, disease-mongering poses a global challenge to those interested in public health, demanding in turn a global response.” Doctors, patients and support groups need to be more aware that pharmaceutical companies are taking this approach, and more research is needed into the changing ways in which conditions are presented, according to the writers. Disease-awareness campaigns are often funded by drug companies, and “more often designed to sell drugs than to illuminate or inform or educate about the prevention of illness or the maintenance of health”, they say. Particular conditions that are highlighted in the journal include sexual function in both men and women. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction, one paper claims, has been highly exaggerated to provide a new market for drugs, while the makers of anti-impotence medicines, such as Viagra and Cialis, have been involved with their presentation as lifestyle drugs that can boost the sexual prowess of healthy men. Ordinary shyness is routinely presented as a social anxiety disorder and treated with antidepressants, while newly identified conditions such as “restless legs syndrome” — a constant urge to move one’s legs — are presented as being much more common than they really are. Richard Ley, of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, rejected the accusations, pointing out that Britain has firm safeguards against disease-mongering. Many of the authors’ criticisms, he said, were aimed squarely at countries such as the United States, where pharmaceuticals can be openly advertised directly to patients. “Drug companies are not allowed to communicate directly with patients, and we do not invent diseases,” he said. “We provide information that there are treatments out there that might help certain conditions, but at the end of the day it is down to health professionals to decide if they are appropriate. “The best safeguard is that the doctor who knows the product and knows the patient’s history is the one who decides what to prescribe.” TRICK OR TREAT? MENOPAUSE Symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats and loss of libido Criticism too often “medicalised” as part of a “disorder” when it is a normal phase of life IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME Symptoms include constipation, cramps and diarrhoea Criticism promoted by drug companies as a serious illness needing therapy, when it is usually a mild problem SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION Symptoms impotence in men, lack of libido or difficulty becoming aroused in women Criticism drugs such as Viagra marketed not only for treating genuine erectile dysfunction caused by medical problems but as lifestyle improvers OSTEOPOROSIS Symptoms thinning of the bones, particularly among postmenopausal women Criticism portrayed as a disease in its own right, when it is really a risk factor for broken bones RESTLESS LEGS Symptoms urge to move legs because of unpleasant feelings, often at night Criticism prevalence of a relatively rare condition exaggerated by the media, along with the need for treatment
April 13, 200620 yr I'd believe that.. ^ why is it that so many minorities are the ones contracting the disease???
April 13, 200620 yr I'd believe that.. ^ why is it that so many minorities are the ones contracting the disease??? Its a racist disease.
April 14, 200620 yr Drug companies 'inventing diseases to boost their profits?' That is absolute bullshit. Whether you believe it or not, things do adapt to stimuli if being exposed to them enough. Simple enough, disease finds a way around the drug. That's why there's no cure for the common cold. There are too many types of cold-causing influences to have a cure for all of them. Always trying to find something wrong with the government are we?
April 14, 200620 yr Oh' date=' yeah I know. But the drug industry is sorta run by the government tho.[/quote'] its not 'run' by the government... its administered and regulated by the government..... (FDA) ... and it was 'your boy' Mrcool who suggested the government in the first place..
April 14, 200620 yr "Administered and regulated by the government" means "run by the government." And Mrcool isn't the one who told me the FDA is the drug industry...
April 14, 200620 yr It is basic marketing 101. Step One: Create the need Step Two: Fill the Need! How many people have died from the bird flu? from SARS? wasnt it about 80 people. . . the the WHOLE FREAKING WORLD!!!!
April 14, 200620 yr "Administered and regulated by the government" means "run by the government." And Mrcool isn't the one who told me the FDA is the drug industry... haha camille got told.
April 14, 200620 yr yes BUT. a majore pandemic will happen in teh future, it could be the bird flu or something else but one things is a fact. IT WILL happen sometime soon. we need to be ready for it.
April 14, 200620 yr you're right,but what do u think about the role of the media in this story?they put a panic wave tha destroyed the chicken industry in Italy
April 14, 200620 yr you're right!but what do u think about the role of the media in this story?they created a panicwave that destroyed the chicken industry in Italy. yeah. they are taking it way to far, but thats what sells. they use fear to make money. we should take the middle ground on this. we shouldnt be carefree about it but we shouldnt be too worried and panic. we should be cautious.
April 14, 200620 yr I'm still eating chicken! anyway,it's easter time.....LET'S EAT LAMBS!!!!!!!!:cowboy:
April 14, 200620 yr I'm still eating chicken! anyway,it's easter time.....LET'S EAT LAMBS!!!!!!!!:cowboy: lol chicken is good, ill never stop eating it! and lamb thats good too.
April 14, 200620 yr haha camille got told. fuck you I give you 2 pts. for finally spelling my name right though... as for mrcool's ally.... administered doesn't mean they 'run' it... they just over see its daily operations.... thats the 'political' view on it... AND it was so Nick who say it was 'run' by the government... go back and read. its all a business when you look at it.. do drug co. really make up diseases to sell more product?? Probably.... do I care enough to sit here and argue with anyone about it... no not really. I just feel bad for the millions and millions of young kids who happen to depend on these drugs to make them feel better while some meds could possibly be doing them more harm.
April 15, 200620 yr fuck you I give you 2 pts. for finally spelling my name right though... as for mrcool's ally.... administered doesn't mean they 'run' it... they just over see its daily operations.... thats the 'political' view on it... AND it was so Nick who say it was 'run' by the government... go back and read. its all a business when you look at it.. do drug co. really make up diseases to sell more product?? Probably.... do I care enough to sit here and argue with anyone about it... no not really. I just feel bad for the millions and millions of young kids who happen to depend on these drugs to make them feel better while some meds could possibly be doing them more harm. now now....dont be a sour sport. just because you got told, doesnt mean you should get mad at me. haha
April 17, 200620 yr now now....dont be a sour sport. just because you got told' date=' doesnt mean you should get mad at me. haha[/quote'] I got told?? Uh, I don't think I did being as he/she obviously didn't read what YOU wrote... genius :rolleyes: and giving a mod bad rep points means nothing. ;) I'm untouchable.... :wink3: :P
April 17, 200620 yr Author You know something....he's so middle ground, middle of the road, weak & accepting of what going to happen that it's really pity we should have. I mean, we agree on the fact that these things are being pumped up on purpose and he says things like "BUT. a majore pandemic will happen in teh future, it WILL happen sometime soon. we need to be ready for it." Why don't you just lie down somewhere nice and soft for a little napp.
April 17, 200620 yr I got told?? Uh, I don't think I did being as he/she obviously didn't read what YOU wrote... genius :rolleyes: and giving a mod bad rep points means nothing. ;) I'm untouchable.... :wink3: :P tiss tiss dont be so angry
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