Australia was deeply impacted by the Covid hysteria, medical malpractice and government malfeasance beginning in early 2020. This significant book adds to the growing body of literature deconstructing the era which has destroyed so many Australians’ faith in their government and the nation’s medical establishment.
Follow the Science: How Big Pharma Misleads, Obscures, and Prevails by Sharyl Attkisson, an Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist, delves into the intricate web of corruption within the pharmaceutical industry, its collusion with media, government, and the medical establishment. Attkisson’s work is not just a critique but an exposé of how these entities prioritize profit over public health, often at the expense of truth and transparency.
The book begins by exploring the historical context of pharmaceutical influence, highlighting how the industry’s lobbying efforts in the 1990s led to the U.S. becoming one of only two countries allowing direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. This change fundamentally altered the landscape of healthcare, turning medications into marketed products more akin to consumer goods than health solutions. Attkisson meticulously documents how this shift has led to an over reliance on pharmaceuticals, often at the cost of alternative treatments or preventive care.
A significant portion of “Follow the Science” is dedicated to the events surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. Here, Attkisson criticizes the one-size-fits-all approach to Covid management, from lockdowns to vaccine mandates, questioning not just their efficacy but also the ethics behind them. She points out the suppression of alternative treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, attributing this to financial interests rather than scientific merit. Her analysis extends to the vaccines, discussing the under reported adverse events and the aggressive promotion of these vaccines despite early uncertainties about their long-term effects.
One of the book’s central themes is the manipulation of information. Attkisson reveals how pharmaceutical companies influence medical education, media narratives, and even patient advocacy groups through financial ties. “The pharmaceutical industry teaches slanted information to medical students and doctors,” she notes, indicating a system where future doctors are subtly indoctrinated into prescribing habits beneficial to drug companies rather than patients.
In her critique of media and government, Attkisson highlights instances where these entities have acted more as partners of Big Pharma than as independent watchdogs or public servants. She discusses how news media, often funded or influenced by pharmaceutical advertising, tend to propagate narratives favorable to these companies, thus obscuring public perception of drug risks and benefits.
Quotes from Sharyl Attkisson:
- “When caught, they circle the wagons and marshal forces to defend their bad acts and take steps to cruelly silence the injured and smear those who would expose them.” This quote captures the defensive and often aggressive response of the pharmaceutical industry when faced with scrutiny.
- “A five-year long investigation by the watchdog group US Right to Know found the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics was taking millions from the very industries blamed for much of our poor diets and chronic diseases.” Here, Attkisson points to the deep financial ties that influence even nutritional guidelines, reflecting broader industry influence.
Reviews:
From Goodreads: “Follow the Science is a very highly recommended exposé of the corruption, subterfuge, propaganda, misinformation, and cover-ups present in the pharmaceutical industry and supported by the news media for decades.” This review underscores the book’s investigative depth and its role in unveiling systemic issues.
From DrHoffman.com: “Attkisson is a five-time Emmy Award winner, and recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting. She… exposes the corruption that has ruled the pharmaceutical industry for decades.” This review highlights Attkisson’s credibility as a journalist and the significance of her findings in understanding the pharmaceutical industry’s influence.
