The Pharmaceutical Industry

[Jo_the_boat]

There's an interesting article here about the power and influence of the drug industry.

I follow both this article's protagonists (Dr Kendrick and Dr Aseem Malhotra). They both offer science / experience-based views on conditions and treatments.
For me it's important to look at all sides of a discussion before making my mind up about treatment. I don't think that we should take drugs or follow a particular philosophy just because we're told to. The person doing the telling 'may' not have full knowledge or they 'may' have a vested interest, or, god forbid, have been bullied / coerced.

We, that's us on here, or at least some of us, have chosen not to heed some advice given to us. And, as far as I can tell via your posts (and my personal experience) we seem to be thriving. Statins is one example of the drugs we have become aware of, researched and made our own minds up about.
The power of personal experience makes a convincing argument.

The article above highlights the influence powerful organisations try (and in many cases do) to exert over us. Particularly those people who don't have it in them to question. We on here question things and to me that is a really healthy state of affairs. In fact, it's why this organisation is so helpful and trusted.

This article is not an isolated example of how the people at the very top of our medical profession, themselves possibly bullied / bribed / coerced by a hugely powerful drug industry, suppress the thoughts and opinions of the doctors who treat you and me.
There's another article here.

If there's one thing I hate and one thing I believe more damaging to our democracy it's the suppression of opinion and debate.

 

[Outlier]

Splendid stuff - well worth reading. Thank you.

One really can't serve God and Mammon, can one?

 

[Oldvatr]

Interesting that Malhotra and Ancel Keys both examined the environment of one particular town in Italy (Pioppi) and reached absolutely opposite conclusions. I follow Dr Malhotra too , and use his diet advice (which is basically LCHF Mediterranean) in my own life. I follow him because he is a cardiologist of renown, not a diabetes specialist, but he is fully aware of our needs too. His diet is not specific to diabetics, but is a contender for Eatwell in the wider world.

IMO that medication is sometimes necessary in our lives, but while the pharma industry is responsible for doing not just research but also the reporting and conduction of experiments, and who are allowed to keep their data confidential so no independent scrutiny is possible, then we are right to query their findings. When meds start being handed out like sweets, then I am minded of the warning, never accept sweets from strangers.

This forum is unique in its openess and discussions. I try to remember that there is an outside world where the majority of people are happy to reach for a Mothers Little Helper, and are happy to give over control of their condition to 'experts' since it is too much bother to work it out for themselves. It is really wonderful to see so many forum members here finding solutions and improving their lives from what they learn here.

 

[Jo_the_boat]

Interesting that Malhotra and Ancel Keys both examined the environment of one particular town in Italy (Pioppi) and reached absolutely opposite conclusions. I follow Dr Malhotra too , and use his diet advice (which is basically LCHF Mediterranean) in my own life. I follow him because he is a cardiologist of renown, not a diabetes specialist, but he is fully aware of our needs too. His diet is not specific to diabetics, but is a contender for Eatwell in the wider world.

IMO that medication is sometimes necessary in our lives, but while the pharma industry is responsible for doing not just research but also the reporting and conduction of experiments, and who are allowed to keep their data confidential so no independent scrutiny is possible, then we are right to query their findings. When meds start being handed out like sweets, then I am minded of the warning, never accept sweets from strangers.

This forum is unique in its openess and discussions. I try to remember that there is an outside world where the majority of people are happy to reach for a Mothers Little Helper, and are happy to give over control of their condition to 'experts' since it is too much bother to work it out for themselves. It is really wonderful to see so many forum members here finding solutions and improving their lives from what they learn here.

Well said.