| sineatR@gmail.com 2005-08-17, 10:54 pm |
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"complaints over the years at the way in which the medical profession
is creating medical conditions out of the normal range of human
experience. Even extreme human experiences do not need to be
medicalised but can be conceptualized and handled outside the medical
profession. But to do so would impact considerably on medical incomes
and drug company incomes and as a result the public has to be convinced
that we are sick when in fact we are suffering from dilemas that are
more related to issues to do with the human condition than with a
medical illness." J-Barlow
An interesting book that goes into this issue is Moynihan, R and
Cassels, Selling Sickness, published by Allen and Unwin. One of the
authors, Ray Moynihan has been interviewed on a number of radio
programmes and if you are interested in hearing a recording of him
being interviewed you can download an mp3 file from the following
website:
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/notes/s1385628.htm
>From the jacket:
'...read this book and rage.' - Clive Hamilton
'This remarkable investigation of the Sickness Industry is by two
accomplished writers with an incredible story to tell.' - Robyn
Williams
Three decades ago, the head of one of the world's leading drug
companies made some remarkably candid comments. Wishing his company was
more like the chewing gum maker Wrigley's, the chief executive of Merck
said it had long been his dream to make drugs for healthy people, and
'sell to everyone'. That dream now drives the marketing machinery of
one of the most profitable industries on the planet.Using their
dominating influence in medical science, drug companies are marketing
fear in order to re-define human illness. In alliance with
company-friendly doctors and sponsored patient groups, the all-powerful
pharmaceutical industry is helping to widen the very definitions of
disease, in order to expand markets for its drugs. With compelling
clarity, Selling Sicknessreveals how the ups and downs of daily life
are becoming mental disorders, and common complaints are being
transformed into frightening conditions. Shyness is Social Anxiety
Disorder, PMS is a psychiatric illness called PMDD, and active children
now have ADHD. As more and more ordinary people are turned into
patients, drug companies move ever closer to that dream of selling to
everyone."
Sent to me by my teacher
Ms Student
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