Uncovering the Dark Side of Science: A Revealing Review of ‘Follow the Science’ – Must-Read Insights for Your Lifestyle

A new book titled Follow the Science by Sharyl Attkisson reveals troubling issues in healthcare. Attkisson, an investigative journalist, argues that a corrupt relationship exists between doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and drug regulators. This relationship can harm patients’ health.

In this non-fiction work, Attkisson highlights the complex problems in medical science today. She examines everything from medical research to how clinical data is analyzed and how drugs are approved. Her main point is that powerful medical authorities often prioritize profits over patient care. Instead of helping patients recover, there’s a push to keep them on more medications and vaccines.

One major concern she raises is the pharmaceutical companies’ priority to please shareholders rather than focus on patients’ needs. Throughout the book, she discusses various case studies that illustrate how the balance of power in healthcare has shifted over the years, creating what she calls a “medical-industrial complex.”

For instance, she notes a significant change in the definition of vaccines. For 200 years, vaccines were meant to prevent diseases. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic in September 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised this definition to say vaccines “stimulate the body’s immune response.” This change helped justify the Covid vaccines, which do not prevent illness entirely.

Attkisson raises important questions. Why not admit that the vaccines have limitations? She uses recordings of a Congress member to show that officials at the CDC were aware that vaccines might not provide additional protection for those who had already recovered from Covid-19. Yet, they still recommended vaccination to this group, perhaps to maintain the market for the vaccine.

The author discusses the lack of attention given to natural immunity gained through previous infections. Why risk the side effects of vaccines if someone already has immunity? She also points out other critical issues, like whether some elderly individuals are at greater risk of complications from the vaccine and the genuine side effects experienced during the largest vaccination campaign in history. Were the benefits of widespread childhood vaccination worth the potential risks?

Additionally, Attkisson highlights how media bias can influence public perception about treatments. For example, right-leaning journalists often promoted Hydroxychloroquine, while left-leaning outlets favored Remdesivir, showing how politics can taint scientific discussion.

One alarming study mentioned involved testing on premature infants. The trial exposed these vulnerable babies to improper oxygen levels, putting them at risk for severe health issues, including potential blindness or brain damage. The parents of these children participated without fully understanding the risks, leaving them with lifelong regrets.

In discussing corporate influence in science, Attkisson follows Dr. Hayes, who discovered that a popular agricultural chemical caused male frogs to develop female traits. When he tried to publish his findings, the company obstructed his efforts and discredited his work.

Attkisson also questions the rising rates of autism in children and highlights how some groups may have worked to suppress links between vaccines and autism. Throughout her book, she reveals deep-rooted conflicts of interest in the healthcare industry, where medical experts tied to pharmaceutical companies influence drug approval processes.

She connects these issues to the investigation of the origins of Covid-19, pointing out how certain scientists involved in risky research at the Wuhan lab also influenced investigations into the virus’s source. By exposing these conflicts, Attkisson emphasizes the need for transparency in healthcare.

While her focus is primarily on the US, similar patterns can be seen in other countries, including India. For example, researchers at Banaras Hindu University faced repercussions for publishing findings on vaccine side effects. A public inquiry into vaccine concerns was dismissed as sensationalism by the Supreme Court.

Overall, Attkisson’s book raises critical questions about healthcare integrity. It encourages readers to think critically about the information they receive regarding their health, urging us to reflect on why trust in medical experts may be eroding.

Follow the Science: How Big Pharma Misleads, Obscures, and Prevails

Sharyl Attkisson

HarperCollins

288 Pages, ₹1,399

By Soma Das, author of The Reluctant Billionaire, and adviser in the development sector.