No surprise. Just another terrible example of the one-sided – potentially harmful – information often disseminated on the network TV morning programs. See the latest review of the CBS Early Show on HealthNewsReview.org
It wraps up a very good week for former tennis star John McEnroe. But not so good for men who may have seen him on TV.
* A prime time appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live promoting prostate cancer screening
* A CBS Early Show appearance promoting prostate cancer screening
And he was getting paid all the time by a drug company – something clearly noted on the website that McEnroe promoted – but something CBS never disclosed on the air.
GlaxoSmithKline funded and helped develop this campaign, including providing compensation to Mr. McEnroe.
CBS merely turned over the network to this drug company sponsored message – a message that has the support of the American Urological Association but that lacks the support of other respected medical organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the US Preventive Services Task Force.
Shameful in its one-sided, imbalanced, incomplete approach, treating McEnroe’s message as gospel.
Comments
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Marilyn Mann
October 18, 2009 at 11:01 amI’m wondering if under the Federal Trade Commission’s new guidelines, the Glaxo payment would have to be disclosed. See this blog post for a summary and a link to the FTC release:
http://www.experiencetheblog.com/2009/10/10-simple-things-to-know-about-ftcs-new.html
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