How conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies

Health reporter Martha Rosenberg discusses her article, "Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies." Martha outlines how faith in government health bodies like the FDA and CDC has plummeted due to escalating conflicts of interest, tracing some concerns back to the 1992 Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), which allowed drugmakers to fund aspects of the drug approval process. She points to a pattern of FDA commissioners, such as Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Dr. Robert Califf, and Dr. Margaret Hamburg, having significant financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, and notes the concerning practice of drug trials being funded by the manufacturers of the drugs under investigation. Martha also examines the CDC Foundation, which accepts private donations, and cites several CDC directors, including Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, Dr. Tom Frieden, Dr. Julie Gerberding, and Dr. Robert Redfield, who faced scrutiny over alleged conflicts or ethical issues. The conversation delves into the pervasive influence of pharmaceutical lobbying on Congress and the increasing tendency of medical journals to publish industry-funded research, highlighting the danger these interwoven interests pose to public trust and patient well-being.

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