It's a bit outdated since most of the concerns expressed in the book is connected with the US policies in 2002, under Bush administration. It's worth a try to understand that the truth is far from what people believe, from the price of R&D in pharmaceutical industry to the FDA_the most modest agency in the world.

Farmacevtskih podjetij ne zanimajo ljudje z nenavadnimi boleznimi, saj je v teh primerih trg majhen.

Če podjetja ugotovijo, da zdravila ne prinašajo dobička, jih enostavno nehajo proizvajati.

"Celo ekipa New York Yankees včasih izgubi in znano je, da včasih izgubi tudi ekipa Los Angeles Lakers. Toda obstaja organizacija, ki nikdar ne izgubi, in ta organizacija ima za sabo na stotine zmag in nobenega poraza v kongresu Združenih držav. In to je farmacevtska industrija."

Velika farmacija pomaga povsod, kjer se šolajo klinični zdravniki. Nobenega dvoma ni, da vpliva na izobraževalno vsebino. Posledica tega je, da zdravniki ne dobivajo le pristranskih informacij, temveč se naučijo take medicine, ki uporablja veliko zdravil.

Industrija in njeni zagovorniki trdijo, da višje cene, ki jih plačujejo Američani, služijo pokrivanju stroškov raziskovanja in razvoja, vendar pa s tem zanemarjajo dejstvo, da so velika farmacevtska podjetja dobičkonosna povsod po svetu in da njihovi skupni dobički v resnici presegajo njihove skupne izdatke za raziskovanje in razvoj. Leta 2002 so bili njihovi skupni dobički večji od seštevka dobičkov vseh ostalih podjetij s seznama Fortune 500.

Zakaj? Zato, ker lahko!

Big Pharma "is taking us for a ride," Angell contends. "And there will be no real reform without an aroused and determined public to make it happen." This expose may arouse readers, but will it help the larger cause? Critics agree that Angell's passionate, well-researched indictment of the industry's practice raises important questions. The lack of new insight doesn't diminish its power, but some critics who applaud Angell's suggested reforms also see them as unrealistic. Only Dr. Miller of The Wall Street Journal

Great read for anyone interested in 'how we got to now', esp in light of living through seeing Rachel Walinski admit on tv that she considered the Pfizer press release as actual medical data to make public health decisions on, though she also admitted she didn't verify any of the supposed data that led Pfizer to make such a statement. It was a press release!
-facepalm moment-

I so wondered how this was all possible this huge week oiled machine that made big pharma this grand Savior to humanity yet at the same time is a criminal organization.... Welp now I see behind the curtain and understand how & why may doctors who enjoyed the benefits of big pharma 'education' were all in.
It's really important for everyone to understand - IT'S A BUSINESS this thing most of us call medicine.

Seriously this was an illuminating, easy to read, comprehensive though brief, important piece of literature.
Plus, it helps you to navigate and empower you to know what to ask your doctor in order to understand how deeply entrenched they are with big pharma or if they indeed are looking to do what's best for THE PERSON, THE PATIENT sitting in front of them.

'First, Do no harm' is an important ethical model to live by, esp for Doctor's, but sadly many in the medical field nowadays only seem to be worried about doing no harm to their currently plush financial situation from the kickbacks, incentives and consulting fees.

I would have given this 5 stars had I read it when it was published way back in 2004. By 2015 I had already read books like it, so the information was old news, however that is ONLY a testament to timing.
The strengths in this book is that IT WAS published before this subject matter exploded, and one of the better ones that the includes many the dirty details in a more specific manner that other leave out. Another strength of this book is the credibility of the author, as opposed to some with lesser credibility and even those who have a "conspiracy theorist" take. Although, I would have liked more information as to just how deep the industry has taken over ALL medical education not just CME. Maybe that would be something to compare with a more up to date look at the industry.

Big Pharma, Big Banks, Big Tech, Big Billionaires, and slimy politicians...good luck to humanity.
Look to Christ and the Saints as most humans will surely disappoint.

Goodreads by Dr. Vernon Coleman
Hmmm...What happened to Dr. Andrew Moulden and his book Every Vaccine Produces Harm?
May justice, freedom, and the Truth prevail!

If I could give it no stars, I would. What a rag. Worthy of something by Hannity or Coulter, with convenient Republican-esque "fact-finding." Ironic that it's supposed to be leftist. Any liberal, avid reader who knows an ounce about this industry will have a good, but annoyed, laugh.

Angell's harsh critique of the pharmaceutical industry is overly one-sided. There are some good take-home points here once the hyperbole is removed.

Awfully slanted, but still compelling.

Great book. Marcia Angell has a clear understanding of the leverage points for change in the unethical system erected by big pharma and politicians.

Interesting book on how drug companies make a profit using the governement as their financial backers. Also, the conflict of interest between drug companies, doctors, and their patients.

This was fairly good from a policy point of view, though I didn't really learn a whole lot from it that was new.