Book SummaryFollow the Science, by Sharyl Attkisson

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Follow the Science

The pharmaceutical sector suffers from opaque practices, intertwined interests, and conduct that is often unethical.

Attkisson argues that the quest for maximum profits has resulted in widespread deceit and lack of transparency within the drug industry, posing a threat to the health of the public. Sharyl Attkisson argues that this flawed system erodes the credibility of medical research, distorts the results of scientific investigations, and shapes the perceptions of the populace about the trustworthiness and effectiveness of drugs and vaccines. She reveals a web of organizations including drug companies, medical professionals, health regulators, and news organizations that frequently prioritize financial gain over the well-being of patients.

Pharmaceutical corporations intentionally conceal adverse results and manipulate data from clinical studies to boost the appeal of their drugs, thus protecting their economic stakes.

Attkisson sheds light on the disconcerting tactics employed by pharmaceutical companies to downplay or conceal the harmful impacts of their medications, highlighting a worrying pattern of prioritizing financial gain over patient health. She highlights the strategies employed by companies to conceal unfavorable results, manipulate the results of clinical studies, and exert undue influence across various segments of the healthcare industry.

Pharmaceutical Companies Often Bury or Distort Evidence of Side Effects and Dangers of Their Drugs, Even Going So Far as to Falsely Claim There Is No Link Between the Drug and the Adverse Event

In her quest to uncover the truth, Attkisson exposes the extreme measures pharmaceutical companies take to safeguard their profits, often engaging in dubious strategies to downplay or conceal the potential dangers and negative consequences of their drugs. Attkisson outlines a method in which the outcomes of clinical trials are segmented into less alarming subcategories, effectively obscuring the complete range of possible dangers. The case of [restricted term], a diabetes drug that ultimately had to be pulled from the market due to its link with liver failure, stands as a key illustration. Attkisson, who conducted an investigation into [restricted term] while working at CBS News, reveals that early clinical trial data showing liver damage was cleverly concealed by distributing it among different subgroups, thereby avoiding detection in the drug's approval process.

Another tactic employed by these companies is to outright deny any link between their drug and reported side effects, even in the face of mounting evidence. Sharyl Attkisson investigates Bayer's birth control product, [restricted term]. Despite a multitude of reports involving women who experienced cardiac arrests and thrombotic events, Bayer continued to aggressively promote [restricted term]. Only after gathering considerable evidence and under the pressure of regulatory bodies did Bayer add a warning about the risk of blood clots to the packaging of [restricted term]. Additionally, Attkisson highlights how vaccine producers persistently dismiss any link between vaccines and autism, despite evidence to the contrary.

The government's implicit acknowledgment of a connection, as evidenced by a confidential legal paper pertaining to the vaccine injury compensation for Hannah Poling and the mention of "autism" as a potential adverse effect on the packaging of the now-discontinued DTaP vaccine, Tripedia, are both overlooked, according to her. Attkisson underscores the rigorous procedures enforced by the FDA for drug manufacturers when updating their product warnings, which makes the inclusion of the term "autism" on the Tripedia label seem highly unlikely to be a mere oversight. The behavior of these companies shows that they prioritize their economic gains over transparency and responsibility, choosing to hide or deny the real risks associated with their products.

Pharmaceutical corporations frequently shape public conversations by disclosing solely the favorable outcomes of medical studies.

Attkisson reveals how pharmaceutical companies manipulate the scientific process, affecting clinical studies and selectively disclosing favorable results, thus distorting our perception of a drug's effectiveness and potential risks. One tactic they employ is to withhold complete data from researchers they hire to conduct studies, as was the case with Dr. James Kahn's research on an AIDS vaccine. Immune Response, the pharmaceutical company, did not provide Dr. Kahn with the...

Follow the Science Summary The intertwining of financial interests among health agencies, medical professionals, and drug manufacturers casts doubt on the reliability of scientific advice.

Attkisson illuminates the complex financial ties between supposedly neutral medical advisors and the drug industry, casting doubt on the reliability of much of the medical information presented to the public. She argues that undisclosed monetary relationships might distort research outcomes, medical recommendations, and health directives, potentially compromising the health of the broader public.

Doctors and scientists, who seem unbiased yet support or promote products from pharmaceutical companies, often maintain financial ties with these corporations that are not made public, including receiving payment for consultancy, speaking engagements, or research activities.

Sharyl Attkisson exposes a strategy in which physicians, posing as unbiased experts, receive payments from drug companies to promote their products, but their financial ties remain undisclosed. When concerns surface regarding the safety of a novel drug, the producing company usually directs reporters to a healthcare expert who is anticipated to support the drug in media appearances, thus creating an impression of impartial approval. Sharyl Attkisson's inquiry reveals that, notwithstanding their assertions of...

Follow the Science Summary The sector specializing in pharmaceuticals conducts its business in a manner that often obscures accountability for ethically dubious actions and breaches of legal standards.

Attkisson argues that the lack of transparency in the drug industry, combined with weak regulatory oversight and soft-handed enforcement by authorities, allows companies to often violate ethical standards and legal limits with impunity, resulting in significant harm to personal health and public welfare.

Pharmaceutical companies frequently face hefty fines to settle allegations involving deceit, inducements, unlawful marketing, and a range of other violations, but seldom do they endure serious consequences.

Attkisson reveals the disconcerting behaviors of pharmaceutical corporations that, despite their declared dedication to patient protection, frequently engage in practices that are unethical and illegal, resulting in substantial fines to settle lawsuits but evading serious consequences that could deter future misconduct. She provides a multitude of instances where major pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson have resolved legal disputes, underscoring their habitual promotion of drugs for unapproved applications, hiding information about potential dangers, and their strategies of both influencing medical professionals to recommend...

Follow the Science Summary The book explores how information about the safety of drugs and vaccines has been hidden and distorted, particularly with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attkisson argues that the same flawed system undermining confidence in pharmaceutical research and the reliability of drug safety also impacts the sector responsible for developing vaccines, particularly those produced to combat Covid-19. She uncovers the tactics used by corporate bodies to downplay or ignore evidence of adverse vaccine effects, manipulate data to exaggerate the benefits of vaccines, and use aggressive promotional tactics to suppress dissenting voices and control the conversation regarding the security of immunizations. Attkisson reveals how this trend has stifled authentic scientific inquiry and eroded trust in vaccines, potentially endangering public well-being.

Authorities in the field of public health have persistently downplayed and dismissed the possibility of a link between vaccines and serious adverse effects, including autism.

Attkisson argues that despite widespread claims of vaccines being completely safe and effective, there is substantial proof of severe adverse effects linked to certain immunizations, effects that health authorities have habitually downplayed and dismissed. Attkisson emphasizes that research and legal rulings have established...

Follow the Science Summary Numerous governmental bodies, along with charitable organizations and media outlets, contribute to the spread of information that frequently disregards differing viewpoints.

Attkisson illuminates how various institutions, including government agencies, prominent media outlets, and philanthropic organizations, have played a role in promoting specific stories concerning vaccines, disseminating false data about COVID-19, and persistently dismissing alternative viewpoints. She argues that financial incentives from pharmaceutical companies and political goals have greatly influenced these entities, leading to the creation of a distorted narrative of the pandemic that has caused increased fear, harmful policies, and a decline in trust in public institutions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have frequently made statements about the safety of vaccines and drugs that are misleading or false, often placing the interests of drug manufacturers above public health.

Attkisson argues that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have failed in their responsibility to protect public health by consistently disseminating vaccine and medication safety data that is not just inaccurate but also misleading, thus prioritizing the interests of drug companies over...

Follow the Science Summary Communities may experience effects on their well-being when individuals challenge established healthcare institutions.

Attkisson argues that authorities in the fields of medicine and science endeavor to maintain their authority. People often encounter scorn and efforts to discredit them when they express doubts about the safety of medications and immunizations, regardless of the validity of their claims or evidence. She presents compelling case studies of scientists, researchers, and journalists who have dared to challenge the established norms, exposing both the personal and professional repercussions they encountered, in addition to the broader consequences for public health when legitimate concerns are neglected or suppressed.

Tyrone Hayes that linked the herbicide Atrazine to hormonal disruptions causing feminization in amphibians resulted in him facing disparagement and slander.

Sharyl Attkisson recounts the story involving Dr. Tyrone Hayes, who has an association with the University of California, Berkeley, which faced a vigorous campaign to tarnish its reputation, which was launched by Syngenta. The firm faced scrutiny after the inquiry uncovered the detrimental impacts of atrazine, its flagship herbicide. The compound disrupted the hormonal functions in amphibians, which resulted in...