Bad Pharma

How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients

By: Ben Goldacre

Narrated by: Jonathan Cowley

Medicine is broken. We like to imagine that it's based on evidence and the results of fair tests. In reality, those tests are often profoundly flawed. We like to imagine that doctors are familiar with the research literature surrounding a drug, when in reality much of the research is hidden from them by drug companies. We like to imagine that doctors are impartially educated, when in reality much of their education is funded by industry. We like to imagine that regulators let only effective drugs onto the market, when in reality they approve hopeless drugs, with data on side effects casually withheld from doctors and patients.

All these problems have been protected from public scrutiny because they're too complex to capture in a sound bite. But Dr. Ben Goldacre shows that the true scale of this murderous disaster fully reveals itself only when the details are untangled. He believes we should all be able to understand precisely how data manipulation works and how research misconduct on a global scale affects us. In his own words, "the tricks and distortions documented in these pages are beautiful, intricate, and fascinating in their details." With Goldacre's characteristic flair and a forensic attention to detail, Bad Pharma reveals a shockingly broken system and calls for something to be done. This is the pharmaceutical industry as it has never been seen before.

©2013 Ben Goldacre (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A useful guide for policymakers, doctors and the patients who need protection against deliberate disinformation.” ( Kirkus)

Bad ethics one pill at a time

A scary look at our broken medical system that is driven by profits by pharmaceutical companies rather them patient care. Only trials supporting the desired outcome by the company get polished and the negative ones are buried which leads doctors who try to do the right thing for their patience prescribing treatments on faulty data that leads to wasted money on treatments and unwarranted pain, suffering, and death of patients. Pharma reps provide biased training and perks including posh seminar troops I. Desired locals with luxury food and drinks tainting doctor's decisions. Not only a wake up call about our broken medical system but a cautionary story of bad strategic decisions being made based on biased data spoon feed by self interested unscrupulous stakeholders desiring a certain direction that can plaque any industry.

Detailed explanation of manipulation

Great "A-Z" explanation of the methods used to manipulate medicine to provide the basis for "drugs" to be the favored answer. The author is very thorough in describing the methods used to control and manipulate the medical narrative. The general public is taught to "ask your doctor" and the doctors are in turn manipulated to believe that the "evidenced based" information they are being fed (pun intended) is legit.

eye opening

Shocking story of dishonest behavior in the drug industry, with the complicity of the medical profession and regulators.

Crucial information; outstanding narration

Full of vital information for Healthcare professionals and patients. Narration conveyed the sense of urgency and call to action required for a book like this. Brilliantly done!

A must read for health professionals

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes

What other book might you compare Bad Pharma to and why?

Anatomy of an Epidemic. Both provide invaluable information about pharmaceuticals, both are scrupulously researched

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Cowley – was your favorite?

Like most people, I assumed that the process by which prescriptions meds were approved met the highest of scientific standards. I am a researcher by training and I understand that while meeting such standards is difficult, it isn't optional. Goldacre's review of the process is a bit dramatic in tone, but his facts are verifiable and his case is quite credible. As a psychologist, this information is particularly valuable to me. Most of my clients take some kind of medication, and all assume that these meds are proven safe and effective. The more I know about the efficacy and safety of medications, the better able I am to work with my clients and their doctors (many of whom ALSO assume all meds are safe and effective, compliments of the FDA)