Are Pharmaceutical Companies Selling Sickness?

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DATE : Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:00:00 GMT
Entered in Database : 2005-12-30 16:00:00
length : 18660648
Link to the Show / Show Notes

Millions of Americans are using a rising number of prescription drugs for conditions ranging from teenage shyness to menopause. In 1993, the average number of annual prescriptions per person was seven; in 2004, it was 12--and growing. Once, we were grateful for a prescription to soothe a migraine headache or extreme stomach flu. Now, our medicine cabinets are bulging with pills for everything from erectile dysfunction and menopause to insomnia, indigestion, high cholesterol, anxiety and restless leg syndrome--and pharmaceutical companies are spending billions to persuade doctors to prescribe them and us to take them. Some critics argue that the pharmaceutical industry has created a culture of desire for drugs we don't need. On the eve of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, guest host Diana Nyad talks about the selling of sickness.Making News: Enron's Causey Agrees to Pleas Guilty
One of three former officers of Enron, scheduled to stand trial in two weeks, struck a plea bargain with prosecutors in Houston yesterday. Former Chief Accounting Officer Richard Causey will give up information to strengthen the case against former colleagues Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. The Wall Street Journal's John Emshwiller, author of a recent book on the Enron scandal, has more on the continuing saga of the energy giant.Reporter's Notebook: What's Next for Diebold?
Diebold first made national headlines when its CEO wrote a fundraising letter promising to deliver the votes of Ohio to President Bush in last year's presidential election. That raised eyebrows sky high, because Ohio uses Diebold machines. Earlier this month, Walden O'Dell resigned after two class-action lawsuits, charges of insider trading and discovery by a Florida county that Diebold's machines can be hacked to change votes. Warren Olney speaks with Julie Carr Smyth, who covers politics for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

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