Tabloid Medicine: How the Internet Is Being Used to Hijack Medical Science for Fear and Profit

by Robert Goldberg

Can you trust your health to the Internet? Nearly 8 million Americans search the Internet daily for medical advice on everything from bumps and bruises to cancer. But consumers should beware: this growing phenomenon of instantaneous medical advice, offered by "Google PhDs," has a dark and dangerous side. "Anyone" can put seemingly authoritative medical advice on the Internet whether or not it has any scientific merit. In this provocative and eye-opening book, prominent health policy expert and journalist Dr. Robert Goldberg reveals how the media, trial attorneys, anti-industry activists, and politicians work together to create a shadow campaign of doubt and fear about the safety of medical treatments. Dr. Goldberg reveals how the internet is used to scare the public and hide a political agenda, while preying on people's insecurities to the ultimate detriment of both the individual and public health. Dr. Goldberg investigates the rise of the "instant expert," and shows how this new style of medical debate allows sensationalism and celebrity status to outweigh science and knowledge. "Tabloid Medicine" also uncovers how anti-pharmaceutical movements on the Internet not only drive people away from taking vaccines and medicines that have been proven to work, they also undermine medical progress across the board. Because of this dangerous trend, the number of new vaccines and drugs in development is at an all-time low, despite the wealth of medical knowledge and genetic technology available. With Dr. Goldberg's help, consumers will know where to look for health information and how to put public safety back in the hands of medical professionals.

Genres: Medicine, Science

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 14, 2010

Reviews

[Joshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring! Got a third of the way in.

The general message is that people's ability to assess risk is very flawed, and that this leads to poor political and public choices regarding drugs and treatment. Due to complex dynamics between online connectivity, public opinion, and biased industrial and political voices, America is filled with irrational individual and policy decisions regarding the scientific assessment of benefits and risks - and this in itself is dangerous.

However, he just repeats this message over and over by analysing different cases of drugs, disease, and treatment through this lense. Look up the chapter headings - if you want a blow-by-blow those stories, that's what you'll get.

Also this guy is a journalist with a PhD in politics, not medicine, and doesn't do much to refute the claim that he's much like the biased, unscientific voices he villifies for claiming the public's attention more than medical experts.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was astounded by the level of distrust a certain percentage of our population holds against the medical profession. What the purveyors of the "Tabloid Medicine" discussed in this book by Robert Goldberg do is having detrimental and oftentimes DEADLY results. What they are striving for is nothing less than the systematic destruction of medical research in the United States. And they are not afraid to lie and represent information and are entirely unconcerned with the innocent people they hurt in their quest for POWER. This power trip of their MUST END.

I encourage all Americans to read this book and take its lessons to heart. Yes, it is important that you understand what medicine you are taking and what treatment you are receiving. But why would you take the questionable advice of someone who did not spend 15 years going to medical school and who has ullterier motives (whether pushing a different drug or an alternative form of medicine or a grudge against the medical industry) over the advice of your doctor? The horn-swagling going on by these Snake-oil Salesmen has got to stop. Be proactive, but no pro-the-advice-of-anyone-who-agrees-with-my-opinion.

"Tabloid Medicine" was a fascinating read, if a bit dry and statistical in 2 or 3 places, and should be required reading. If this sort of subject is of interest, I also recommend: "Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All", by Paul A. Offit. It is easily a "10 star" book and one which made me absolutely FURIOUS as I read it.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know to be sceptical about what we read on the internet and to check our sources. This book takes it to the next level, exploring specific examples to show how the internet is used to manipulate and misinform people about medical information. Topics include the vaccine creates autism scandal, vioxx, the creation of "suicidiality" to prevent prescribing anti-depressants to adolescents and the precautionary principle - the belief that, at the extreme, only risk free innovations should be allowed - pretty much a scientific impossibility.
This book is a nice counter to many I've read about the evils of pharmaceutical companies. It examines the techniques used to manipulate readers and gives some info on how to be a more discriminating user of the internet.
My favourite point was a quote by Art Buchwald (adapted for internet) "television has a real problem. They have no page two. Consequently every big story gets the same play and comes across to the viewer as a really big, scary one."

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I wrote so I have to give it a decent review!