Search Results for "disease mongering"
Recap of abbreviated breast MRI study veers into disease mongering
Having dense breasts may make screening more challenging, but it shouldn’t be used to add to women’s fears about their breast cancer risk.
Abbreviated breast MRI may be additional screening option for dense breasts
Vyvanse – A life cycle drug? Or disease mongering?
The following is a guest blog post by Dr. Susan Molchan, one of our independent expert editorial contributors. Could an article in the scientific journal Psychopharmacology, “New onset executive function difficulties at menopause: a possible role for lisdexamfetamine,” be the first shot across the graying marketplace for another “disease” for the brand name stimulant Vyvanse? Initially […]
2 4/2/2015Salon’s “female viagra is long overdue” piece fell into the disease mongering trap
The following blog post is from one of our regular contributors, Alan Cassels, a pharmaceutical policy researcher at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, a journalist, and author of the books “Seeking Sickness” and “The ABCs of Disease Mongering”. These are his opinions. ———————————— It’s great to see young journalists – all enthusiastic and energetic — weigh […]
6/5/2012Disease mongering of low testosterone – two journal articles
Two articles in the current Medical Journal of Australia point to disease-mongering of low testosterone. David Handelsman, PhD, of the University of Sydney, reports that there has been at least a twofold increase in total expenditure on testosterone prescriptions in Australia over two decades. Barbara Mintzes, PhD, of the University of British Columbia, and Agnes […]
4/4/2008Disease mongering by Women’s Health magazine
Add Women’s Health magazine to my list of publications guilty of disease-mongering by advocating tests that are not supported by evidence – recommendations that run counter to those of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The article, “THE MEDICAL TESTS YOU SHOULD TAKE: Head-to-Toe Tune-Up” is not unlike those I’ve criticized on CNN, in the […]
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A perfect storm for broken bones or for disease-mongering of osteoporosis?
Last week in The New York Times, Jane Brody predicted “A Perfect Storm for Broken Bones.” But the column has elements of a perfect storm of disease-mongering. She writes that “fewer adults at risk of advanced bone loss and fractures are undergoing tests for bone density, resulting in a decline in the diagnosis and treatment of […]
Disease-mongering dogs Bloomberg’s story on prostate cancer drugs
The story may also confuse readers in how it refers to “watchful waiting.” The term is most often used to describe a treatment known as active surveillance for men with slow-growing cancers. But this story applies the term to a smaller group of men with high-risk cancers who are hoping to delay recurrence and spread of the cancer.
Early Prostate Cancer Kept at Bay in Two Studies for High-Risk Men
Classic disease-mongering: Fox News story on Marisa Tomei’s struggle with chronic dry eye
Journalistically, this story is missing all the basic details that make up solid reporting–there’s no quotes from independent experts, nor any mention of costs, evidence, harms, alternatives, or conflicts of interest. It is essentially advertising.
Marisa Tomei opens up about her struggle with chronic dry eye
Release veers toward disease-mongering with early arthritis test for healthy people
This release touts the benefits of a test that might find people destined to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But it doesn’t acknowledge the potential downsides of labeling healthy people with “pre-RA.”
Blood test that could predict arthritis risk
Resting bitch face: Disease-mongering plastic surgery news
The following is a guest blog post by Carolina Branson, PhD, an associate editor for HealthNewsReview.org. As noted below, her graduate research was on women’s health issues in the media. “Facial plastic surgery improves perception of femininity, personality, attractiveness.” When I saw this headline from a recent news release from JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, it made me […]
11/19/2014Inadvertent disease-mongering of diabetes puts media innumeracy on display
In another of the occasional Hypewatch features on MedPage Today, Kristina Fiore writes, “Hypewatch: 100 Million Diabetic Americans in the Dark?” A third of Americans have diabetes but don’t know it? That’s almost as hard to believe as the IOM’s conclusion that a third of Americans live with severe chronic pain. The diabetes figure is […]
6 11/29/2012New poster child for disease-mongering? Do you have a pre-cold?
One of our readers tipped us off to what he called “a new poster child for overtreatment.” We’ll call it disease-mongering. It’s the website of the drug company promoting Zicam. The new pitch promotes Zicam for “pre-colds.” What’s a Pre-Cold?, the website asks, anticipating our astute question. Well, as you can see, it’s a term […]
11/21/2012Female orgasmic disorder? CBC airs indepth disease-mongering discussion
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s (CBC) program, The Current, reported: “Drug to treat Female Orgasmic Disorder under speculation.” The brief program description: “Trials of a new drug to help treat a condition known as female orgasmic disorder are underway in Canada. But critics say there’s no such thing, and this is really about drug manufacturing and […]
2 6/14/20123-part series on disease-mongering
William Heisel, one of our ace story reviewers on HealthNewsReview.org, has published three pieces on disease-mongering on the Reporting on Health site. Does Baldness Really Need a Cure? Steer Clear of Disease-Mongering Quicksand Avoid Extremes to Avoid Disease Mongering
3/12/2012Online “Daily Deal” coupon for preventive MRI scan – disease-mongering du jour
Some of the Groupon, Living Social, Daily Deal offerings are getting a little crazy. Here’s one I got today. The ad copy is astounding: Been dealing with a minor ache or pain? Get it checked out today! Once in a while, you may experience an enlightening moment in your life. This experience may change the […]
