In a riveting discussion, Ben Goldacre, a physician and acclaimed science writer known for his 'Bad Science' column, reveals how the pharmaceutical industry is deeply flawed. He highlights the troubling lack of transparency in clinical trials and the influence of drug companies on medical data. Goldacre passionately critiques publication bias in scientific research, exposing how negative results are often ignored. He also emphasizes the urgent need for rigorous standards in drug regulation to enhance patient safety and restore trust in medicine.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Ribocetine Story
Ben Goldacre prescribed riboxetine, an antidepressant, based on published data.
Unpublished data revealed riboxetine was less effective, highlighting the dangers of missing trial data.
question_answer ANECDOTE
EMA vs. Cochrane
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) withheld trial data from Cochrane, a non-profit research group, for three years.
This led to a ruling against the EMA, forcing them to share some data but highlighting regulatory issues.
insights INSIGHT
Industry Denial
Stephen Whitehead, CEO of the British Pharmaceutical Industries, claimed the industry publishes all trial data.
Goldacre argues this is false, citing evidence that half of all trials remain unpublished.
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Matilda Wormwood is a precocious and intelligent girl who is neglected by her selfish and abusive parents. She finds solace in reading and eventually discovers she has telekinetic powers. At school, she faces the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull but finds support from her compassionate teacher Miss Honey. Matilda uses her intelligence and powers to defend herself and Miss Honey against the cruel adults in her life, ultimately leading to a satisfying resolution where she finds a loving home with Miss Honey.
The Drunkard's Walk
How Randomness Rules Our Lives
Leonard Mlodinow
In "The Drunkard's Walk," Leonard Mlodinow uses the random walk as a metaphor to explore the role of chance in our lives. He demonstrates how seemingly random events can have significant consequences, and how our understanding of randomness is often flawed. Mlodinow delves into various fields, from the stock market to scientific discoveries, showing how chance influences outcomes. He challenges our intuitive understanding of cause and effect, highlighting the importance of probability and statistics in making sense of the world. The book is a fascinating exploration of randomness and its impact on our lives, written in a clear and engaging style.
Bad pharma
how drug companies mislead doctors and harm patients
Ben Goldacre
In 'Bad Pharma', Ben Goldacre argues that the pharmaceutical industry systematically distorts medical evidence, leading to flawed clinical trials, biased medical education, and harmful prescribing practices. He details issues such as the withholding of negative data, regulatory capture, and the influence of pharmaceutical companies on medical research and education. Goldacre calls for greater transparency and regulation to address these problems and improve patient care.
"Medicine is broken," warns Ben Goldacre, the British physician, academic, author of the Guardian's Bad Science column. In this live episode of Rationally Speaking, Massimo and Julia interview Ben about his new book, Bad Pharma, and how the evidence about pharmaceutical drugs gets distorted due to shoddy regulations, missing data, and the influence of drug companies.
Rationally Speaking Podcast 
