Overdosed America: The Broken Promise of American Medicine
"Overdosed America reveals the greed and corruption that drive health care costs skyward and now threaten the public health. Before you see a doctor, you should read this book." --Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation
Using the examples of Vioxx, Celebrex, cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, and anti-depressants, Overdosed America shows that at the heart of the current crisis in American medicine lies the commercialization of medical knowledge itself
Critical Analysis of American Healthcare
For twenty years, John Abramson, M.D., cared for patients of all ages in a small town north of Boston. His experience as a family doctor revealed mounting pressure to prescribe the latest drugs and high-tech solutions for nearly every problem. Drawing on his background in statistics and health policy research, he investigated the radical changes taking place in American medicine.
At the heart of the crisis lies the changed purpose of medical knowledge—from seeking to optimize health to searching for the greatest profits. The lack of transparency in commercially sponsored medical research now taints scientific evidence published in prestigious medical journals. This scandal undermines public health rather than just finances.
Evidence-Based Medicine Versus Commercial Interests
Commercial distortion pervades the information doctors rely upon to guide prevention and treatment of common health problems, from heart disease to stroke, osteoporosis, diabetes, and osteoarthritis. Dr. Abramson presents scientific evidence showing that many actions you can take to protect your health are more effective than top-selling pharmaceutical products—information drug companies work hard to suppress.
This book offers conclusive evidence that American medicine has broken its promise to improve health and is squandering more than $500 billion each year in the process.
