On the front page of the Arizona Republic was an article titled “UK
Experts Say Tamiflu is Ineffective” by Maria Cheng Nov 13, 2012 A1, A4.
The article explains that [excerpted] “a leading British
medical journal is asking drug maker Roche to release all its data on Tamiflu,
claiming there is no evidence the drug can actually stop the flu.” [end
excerpt]
The article goes to state that governments all over the
world have been stocking up on Tamiflu (i.e., buying large amounts of it) in
preparation for a flu epidemic, as recommended by the World Health Organization.
A group of researchers in Denmark – conducting research for
the British government - claim that those governments who stocked up on Tamiflu
should sue the maker of Tamiflu (Roche), because the researchers found that the
drug has no medical benefits and it does have side effects.
The article notes that [excerpt] “Roche is also being
investigated by the European Medicines Agency for not properly reporting side
effects, including possible deaths, for 19 drugs, including Tamiflu that were
used in about 80,000 patients in the US.” [end excerpt]
Governments seeking to reduce the risks of an epidemic may potentially
increase mortality by issuing a drug – Tamiflu – with possible side effects,
including death. How is that for a side effect?
We don’t know the end of this story, but it is very unusual for a
medical journal to call for a drug company to release its data and even more
unusual for researchers to encourage governments to sue corporations for purchasing
ineffectual drugs.
And a “side effect” of death
is rather alarming.
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