Mainstream Media Whores Itself Out to Big Pharma in the UK by Publishing Fraudulent 'Protest Letter'

Last month the government proposed allowing pharmacists to substitute prescriptions for branded medicines with generic alternatives. A letter of protest appeared in the Times, signed by various patient groups and experts, with positive coverage in the broadsheets. "Plan to switch to cheaper medicines will harm patients, say experts," reported the Times. They even had a case study: "Patient given Seroxat substitute felt unwell within two days."

But Margaret McCartney GP, writing in the British Medical Journal, has been digging: in fact the letter was coordinated and written by the PR company Burson-Marsteller, paid by the drug company Norgine. Norgine's chief operating officer, Peter Martin, , despite being the major influence behind the campaign, did not sign the letter himself. Asked why not, he said: "There was no conspiracy. The frank truth, the honest truth, is that I thought that having a pharmaceutical company in there would sully the message somewhat".'

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