Medical Conspiracy Theory

Coach is Right ^ | 12/17/14 | Michael D. Shaw

[Oldpuppymax]

Following the assassination of JFK in November, 1963, the word “conspiracy” would enter common parlance. Defined as “A secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful” [Oxford Dictionaries], the term leaves plenty of room for interpretation. At the very least, who decides what is “unlawful” or “harmful”? How can we be sure that the entity determining this is not itself a conspiracy? As the kids might say, “How meta can you get?”

In the health field, most alleged conspiracies involve either a major life-threatening illness that supports lucrative therapies, or a chronic condition in which conventional allopathic approaches seem ineffective. As such, countless theories are advanced whereby a particular chemical or food promotes cancer or heart disease—and the continuing sale of these items occurs only because it benefits a powerful cabal. Likewise, advocates claim that questionable pharmaceutical or surgical therapies are promoted despite reams of contrary scientific evidence as to their effectiveness.

In many cases, conspiracy theorists—acting as little more than fear entrepreneurs—can garner millions of dollars in donations and research grants to endlessly investigate such hobgoblins as endocrine disruptors. Fair enough, but sometimes identifying a conspiracy can be exceedingly difficult.

Consider the matter of Tagamet (cimetidine), the original and most successful of the H2-receptor antagonist drugs, which limit secretion of stomach acid. Peptic ulcers were the bane of the new “Organization Men,” as typified by Madison Avenue advertising execs. The conventional wisdom at the time was that they were caused by stress, smoking, and spicy foods, exacerbated by excess stomach acid. Thus, Tagamet became the first-line therapy in cutting back that nasty acid, and fighting ulcers...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Look at what Novo Nordisk spends on insulin production and what they take in from the sales of same. Think they want to see a cure for diabetes anytime soon?

[caveat emptor]

The biggest medical conspiracy ever, The National Cholesterol Education Program, led to fame for the conspirators, fortunes for the co-conspiring drug companies - billions and billions - and unnecessary health problems for the victims, ie. patients. See eg. here, here, or here. A good summary of the history of cholesterol can be found here.

Different context, but captures the enthusiasm of drug companies for the huge profits from sales of statins.