Pharmaceutical industry coming under some deserved scrutiny

In the past 30 or 40 years the numbers of medications that have come into existence have exceeded anything seen before. Most fall into the category of symptom relievers. Pain relievers, diabetic and asthma medications along with mood altering drugs top the list of those being introduced. Vaccines have also become a priority as the pharmaceutical industry attempts to eliminate all disease. However more news is coming that these drugs and vaccines may not be as advertised.

Most remember the Vioxx debacle that resulted in death for some. Then the pharmaceutical maker Merck introduced a replacement drug called Arcoxia and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied its use as heart problems and high blood pressure resulted while this drug was under study. Merck faces over 23,000 lawsuits from Vioxx and seemed willing to add more with Arcoxia.

Perdue Pharmaceuticals has just taken a blow due to its pain reliever Oxycontin. The claims of less addictive were found false as this drug also has been found to cause death in some along with the problems of addiction that resulted. Some believe that the 600 plus million fine and misdemeanor charges against the top executives was nothing more than a slap on the wrist considering the 100 billion in sales this drug generated.

The vaccine issue continues without any significant action as many claim that these vaccines also contribute to the death or health problems of those vaccinated. For reasons not yet explained the government seems to deny the complications that vaccines can cause. We are told that the health benefits to society outweigh the known adverse effects to a few. The question we must ask is what does government classify as a few? Not only are the numbers much higher than credited but these sacrifices are sent right back to the same industry that contributed to their problems in the first place.

And what is so amazing is that development of the drugs to adjust the disrupted functions, are quickly achieved. The scientists employed or contracted by the Pharmaceutical industry seem to find the dysfunction at extreme speed. And a drug that hides symptoms is quickly on the market. Yet these drugs also have histories of harmful side effects. At times it is as though the causes are known but accepted as just part of the price.

We use terms when we describe law as John Morgan may practice law. We also do the same for doctors as they practice medicine. It may seem insignificant but practice means practice. Something that is ever changing as each case has something that makes it different from others. There are not any real set of rules as time and situations may cause things to change. But this simple fact is ignored as we fail to realize that in today’s world illness may not be caused by things known in the past.

We are denying that each individual is just that and expecting one pill and one shot to react the same on us all. Little Joey may exhibit some Autism Spectrum Disorder signs that Billy down the street does yet there may be subtle differences that are out right ignored. Mary may suffer from pain due to an arthritic condition but Karen’s could be diagnosed the same but have enough of a difference to warrant not using the same medication.

Despite the denials this all shows that the causes are not just one specific cause and could in fact be a mix with one outweighing another. The pharmaceutical industry and its advertising on television or in print gives us many misrepresentations that this or that drug is what is right for you. Basically they are cutting out the doctor and going straight to the patient. How can this be safe medicine as people begin to diagnose themselves?

We need to remove this advertising blitz and demand that the pharmaceutical industry invest in seeking causes and eliminating harmful products and tactics. We have in fact given medicine over to business men and profit seekers. And as you know you don’t practice business. And as is becoming very clear as we move on scientists are being pressured to find what they are paid to and to ignore fact. If your medication or vaccine is in fact safe then why must you lobby government for special treatment?

Why do the pharmaceutical companies fight alternative medicines that are in fact natural and expose the faults associated with business driven medicine? We should be allowed to seek the treatments that are best suited to each individual and not be forced to rely on profit seeking business men that must use monetary means to gain loyalty.

I would hope that everyone was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Let us put medicine back in charge and listen for a change to those that aren’t becoming billionaires and only look at the bottom line while ignoring the individual. We can become a healthier nation if we would only allow ourselves to be. One illness or death caused by man is one too many.