MEDICAL DOUBLE-TALK
From today's headlines
STUDY SHOWS CHOLESTEROL LOWERING DRUG
CUTS HEART ATTACK DEATHS.
(SOUNDS GREAT, NO?)
Now for the rest of the story...
Overall death rates did NOT go down.
Huh?
Why is this outrageous? This is published as "news" in the New York Times. The article is pure propaganda. For example, it states "the risk of strokes and heart attacks was cut more impressively than expected." (8.7% versus 10.9%???) According to the article, some patients (2%) developed liver problems that forced them to stop taking the medication. 2%. Hmmm....
This drug is a gold mine for liver and kidney transplant doctors -- and hospitals, lawyers, etc.
If there are 8,000,000 people already on this drug (25,000,000 people world-wide on statins), then 2% means that 160,000 people (half-million world-wide) will develop liver or kidney disease from taking these statin drugs. Drugs which they take on their doctor's advice for what reason? A supposed 2% reduction in heart attack risk!?!?
Oh yes, The study was funded entirely by Pfizer who made the statin - Lipitor®.
http://http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/09/business/09pfizer.html?ex=1268110800&;en=6f044790f8efda67&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland
8:31:11 PM 
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