Re:RSA is a fragile cryptosystem
by parasubvert on Monday July 08, 2019 @01:44PM
(#20384942)
There's also a scientific backstop in medicine to counter balance unethical commercial interests from causing unbounded harm.
It is possible (even more likely) to have experts with legitimate opinions that are scientifically valid and have measurable outcomes that also correspond to commercial interests. Ie. "it helps people and makes money".
That model has worked for over a century. Yes, it's under attack by unethical people (more than in the past?), but I'm not sure what the alternative would be.
This isn't a recent issue. It may be less of an issue than it was a decade or so ago.
For example, I recall reading that well over half (maybe 70%-90%) of the medical literature on Neurontin (gabapentin) were ghostwritten advertorial spam funded by Novartis.
Yes, of course it is. Doctors know a lot, but they're not competent to assess the pharmaceutical literature.
So here's how it works. In med school, drug manufacturers provide free equipment, food, liquor, etc. And push their drugs. Because once you have someone in the habit of prescribing some drug, they tend to keep prescribing that drug.
Also, you pay influential doctors to deliver talks at conferences, praising your drug(s). You also pay ghostwriters to draft papers, which said influential doctors can submit for publication.
And last, you pay sexy, charismatic young things (of both sexes) to visit doctors' offices, pushing your drugs, and giving away food and stuff.