Newsweek Attacks Oprah Winfrey and BioIdentical Hormones by Jeffrey Dach MD
You might ask why would Newsweek care about Oprah Winfrey? Why attack Oprah Winfrey?
Here's why: Oprah's show advocates Natural Medicine in direct competition to the interests of the Pharmaceutical Industry which makes unnatural chemically altered drugs (such as synthetic monster hormones). Newsweek is merely an attack dog for the drug industry. A single issue of the Newsweek magazine contains $1.4 to $2.3 million in pharma ads, that's why.
Left Image: Cover of Newsweek depicting unflattering image of Oprah as a witch. Courtesy of Newsweek.
To make matters worse, Newsweek is dying along with the rest of the print media, another casualty of the Internet Revolution. Rather than ponder ethical standards, a starving homeless man will smash and grab the loaf of bread in the bakery window. It's the same for Newsweek, a magazine that is “an infomercial masquerading as medical news” and “an example of corruption in journalism".
Newsweek is a Mouthpiece for the Pharmaceutical Industry
Five national consumer organizations have complained about Newsweek. They have charged Newsweek magazine with unethical journalism in the promotion of the drug industry's agenda. Specifically, Newsweek ran a special Health Edition, Health for Life, paid for by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), promoting a biased drug agenda, all the while pretending to be impartial and objective.
Oprah is Immensely Popular
With a personal fortune of 2.7 billion, and 40 million weekly viewers, Oprah Winfrey is immensely popular. Her O magazine sells 2 million copies a month and her new cable television channel will reach 70 million homes.
Left Image: More flattering image of Oprah from her web site.
Why is Oprah so popular? I suggest it is because Oprah is a champion of the interests of the people. In this case she has championed Natural Medicine and Bioidentical Hormones, topics which are immensely popular with the public.
Just Another Misinformation Campaign in a Medical Information War Between Natural Medicine and Big Pharma.
Newsweek Reaches a New Low in Tabloid Journalism with Smears, Lies and Falsehoods
1) Newsweek says: "bioidentical hormones are unregulated".
This is an outright falsehood. Compounded bioidentical hormones are highly regulated at all levels. Just walk into a pharmacy and ask the pharmacist in charge about the regulations. There are literally hundreds of them. They are regulated up the Wazoo from start to finish at county, state and federal levels. And yes, compounded hormones ARE FDA approved, and the same hormones, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone are found at the corner drugstore (examples are estrace, vivelle, prometrium etc.). Just think about this: all prescription medication in the US must be FDA approved in order to be able to sell to the public.
2) Newsweek says: "Somers is simply repackaging the old, discredited idea that menopause is some kind of hormone-deficiency disease, and that restoring them will bring back youth," says Dr. Nanette Santoro, director of reproductive endocrinology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and head of the Reproductive Medicine Clinic at Montefiore Medical Center."
This is another outright falsehood. Menopause is characterized by hormone deficiency, and this is the absolute truth proven by lab tests I see every day. This idea has not been discredited. Well, maybe Newsweek wants the public to think so.
3) Newsweek says: "Hormone therapy can increase a woman's risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and cancer".
Here we see a typical tactic by Newsweek. Newsweek is attempting to confuse the public about two very different types of hormones. Synthetic hormones are the monster hormones. Bio-identical hormones are the good ones that I recommend.
Yes, Newsweek is correct that synthetic monster hormones (such as Provera) are associated with cancer and heart disease. However, Newsweek has not told the public the truth, that bio-identical hormones are safe and are not associated with increased risk of cancer or heart disease.
3) Newsweek says: "And despite Somers' claim that her non-FDA-approved bioidenticals are "natural" and safer, they are actually synthetic, just like conventional hormones and FDA-approved bioidenticals from pharmacies—and there are no conclusive clinical studies showing they are less risky. "
This is outright deceitful and misleading. Number one, hormone raw materials are all FDA approved. Otherwise, they could not even be marketed in the US. '
Number two, Newsweek is trying to confuse the public into believing that synthetic chemically altered hormones (provera) are the same as bioidentical hormones. They are not. Synthetic means chemically altered, and this creates a monster hormone causing cancer and heart disease. Bio-identical Hormones are not chemically altered. They are identical to the hormones in the human body. The medical literature is replete with studies showing that bioidentical hormones are safe and effective, while, on the other hand, the chemically altered synthetic hormones are monsters and should never have been approved for human use.
4) Newsweek says:"Unless a woman has significant discomfort from hot flashes—and most women don't—there is little reason to prescribe them."
Newsweek is wrong again. Hot flashes are only one of many symptoms of estrogen deficiency, Other symptoms include vaginal dryness, sweats, difficulty sleeping, cognitive dysfunction, menopausal arthritis etc. These are all valid symptoms and good reasons for prescribing bioidentical hormones.
CW Randolph MD says:
"Multiple medical studies have linked synthetic hormone replacement therapies, such Premarin and Prempro, to health risks such as breast and uterine cancers, heart attack, stroke. Meanwhile, recent medical research and multiple clinical studies validate the safety and efficacy of bioidentical hormone replacement therapies."
Left Image: Courtesy of CW Randolph MD.
Follow the Money: Jake Crosby, a history student at Brandeis University, has this comment about Newsweek:
"Inside Newsweek Magazine, 10 of the 31 pages of ads are for pharma, 5 of them for Wyeth, including an inside-cover triple-page ad. Naturally, a failing magazine is going to want to receive more ad dollars by running more articles pleasing to sponsors. It seems practical and makes sense, though unethical, dishonest, defamatory and morally reprehensible all at the same time."
"Perhaps Newsweek can also run an article on the 5000 lawsuits Wyeth is facing for the damages attributed to its own, admittedly unnatural, FDA-approved version. If they did, it would help their case of proving Ms. Somers’ alleged belief wrong, that “the media” is “in the pocket of the pharmaceutical industry.”
"What matters is if Newsweek’s articles fit its agenda. In a magazine filled with pharma ads, accused in 2001 by five consumer groups of breaching journalism ethics by working with the lobby group PhRMA, having a special advertising relationship with pharmaceutical corporations and allowing its publication to be used by pharma lobbyists for public relations purposes, Newsweek’s agenda is no secret. One consumer advocate described Newsweek as “an infomercial masquerading as medical news” and “an example of corruption in journalism. Newsweek has surrendered its professional credentials by shamelessly engaging in disease mongering aimed at increasing profits for the mental health industry.” Above quoted from Jake Crosby.
Newsweek Writer, Pat Wingert, Also Wrote A Book On Menopause
Pat Wingert, the co-writer of the Oprah-bashing Newsweek Article, also co-authored a book on menopause entitled, "Is it Hot in Here? Or is it me? The Complete Guide to Menopause" available on Amazon.
Left Image Courtesy of Pat Wingert. Right Image book cover.
Book Reviews on Amazon - Pat Wingert's Menopause Book
Here are a few unflattering book reviews on Amazon that give you an idea about the level of journalism we are dealing with:
Get This Book Off the Market
"I have been dealing with menopause for several years and this book in no way, shape or form helped me to find a cure for my symptoms. But then again why would I buy a book written by journalists about medical conditions?!?! And as a side, I have found that bio-identical hormones are the ONLY therapy that has saved my life, instead of "possibly" risking my life by taking synthetic hormones. Get this book off the market!
Garbage
"This book is complete garbage! I agree with another reviewer who said that this book should be taken off the market. "
Total Waste
"Let me save you the price of this book, This book (by Pat Wingert) was a total waste of my time and money."
Articles With Related Content:
Oprah Winfrey Praises BioIdentical Hormones by Jeffrey Dach MD
The Evidence for Bioidentical Hormones by Jeffrey Dach MD
FDA Declares War on BioIdentical Hormones by Jeffrey Dach MD
The Importance of BioIdentical Hormones by Jeffrey Dach MD
The Safety Of Bio-Identical Hormones by Jeffrey Dach MD
The Battle for BioIdentical Hormones by Jeffrey Dach MD
BioIdentical Hormones, Cook Book or Tailor Made? by Jeffrey Dach MD
Breast Cancer Prevention and Iodine Supplementation by Jeffrey Dach MD
Jeffrey Dach MD
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Links and References:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/200025
Live Your Best Life Ever! Wish Away Cancer! Get A Lunchtime Face-Lift! Eradicate Autism! Turn Back The Clock! Thin Your Thighs! Cure Menopause! Harness Positive Energy! Erase Wrinkles! Banish Obesity! Live Your Best Life Ever! By Weston Kosova and Pat Wingert | NEWSWEEK
Published May 30, 2009 From the magazine issue dated Jun 8, 2009
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/06/prweb2522034.htm
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Is REAL Medical Science, Not Entertainment Medicine by C.W. Randolph, Jr., M.D., Medical Director of the Natural Hormone Institute.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/mainstream-medicine-and-t_b_213132.html
Mainstream Medicine and the Oprah Factor by Deepak ChopraAuthor, Sirius radio host, founder of the Alliance for a New Humanity Posted: June 9, 2009
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/claire-shipman-and-katty-kay/did-anyone-else-think-the_b_212819.html
Did Anyone Else Think The Newsweek Photo of Oprah Was Misogynistic? And Just Plain Dumb? by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay
Newsweek decides to go the other way--withholding information seems the point. Reading this Newsweek article, you'd think there was really no difference between the synthetic hormones provided by drug companies and the bio-identical hormones that many doctors prescribe, but which are not produced by major drug companies. "They are actually synthetic, just like conventional hormones." Hardly. Yes, they are both "man-made," but the bioidenticals are created to have the same molecular structure as our own hormones. Synthetic are not, it's a one size fits all approach that leaves many women with uncomfortable side effects. The bioidentical process is quite arduous, and requires lots of testing, but each woman gets a regimen much more suited to her body.
Was anybody troubled by the glib disclosure that Newsweek correspondent Pat Wingert, who worked on this article, wrote a book on menopause? Excuse me? Talk about a dog in the fight! I imagine she can't be a big fan of bioidentical hormones in her book.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/33610
Pat Wingert. Coming to Newsweek after a nine-year journalism career in Chicago, Wingert had worked as a reporter for The Chicago Tribune from 1985 to 1986 and The Chicago Sun-Times from 1977 to 1984. While working at the Sun-Times, she worked as legman to Chicago's legendary Pulitzer-Prize winning columnist, Mike Royko. A Chicago native, Wingert received a B.S. in journalism from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She resides in Washington D.C. with her husband Brian Kelly, the executive editor of U.S. News magazine, and their three children.
http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/06/newsweeks-newspeak-pharmas-weapon-against-oprah.html
Newsweek’s Newspeak: Pharma’s Weapon Against Oprah By Jake Crosby Jake Crosby is a history student at Brandeis University
"More likely, the explanation is that 10 of the 31 pages of ads are for pharma, 5 of them for Wyeth, including an inside-cover triple-page ad. Naturally, a failing magazine is going to want to receive more ad dollars by running more articles pleasing to sponsors. It seems practical and makes sense, though unethical, dishonest, defamatory and morally reprehensible all at the same time. ... Perhaps Newsweek can also run an article on the 5000 lawsuits Wyeth is facing for the damages attributed to its own, admittedly unnatural, FDA-approved version. If they did, it would help their case of proving Ms. Somers’ alleged belief wrong, that “the media” is “in the pocket of the pharmaceutical industry.”...What matters is if Newsweek’s articles fit its agenda. In a magazine filled with pharma ads, accused in 2001 by five consumer groups of breaching journalism ethics by working with the lobby group PhRMA, having a special advertising relationship with pharmaceutical corporations and allowing its publication to be used by pharma lobbyists for public relations purposes, Newsweek’s agenda is no secret. One consumer advocate described Newsweek as “an infomercial masquerading as medical news” and “an example of corruption in journalism. Newsweek has surrendered its professional credentials by shamelessly engaging in disease mongering aimed at increasing profits for the mental health industry.”
http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/newsroom/statements/2001-statements/press-statement-consumer-groups-criticize-newsweek-for-transgressing-ethical-bounds-by-working-with-the-pharmaceutical-drug-lobby.html
Press Statement
CONSUMER GROUPS CRITICIZE NEWSWEEK FOR TRANSGRESSING ETHICAL BOUNDS BY WORKING WITH THE PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG LOBBY
Drug Lobby's Exclusive Sponsorship of Newsweek's Special Health Edition and Other Joint Efforts Improperly Aided Drug Lobby's Agenda, Groups Claim
October 2, 2001 Contact: Dave Lemmon, Director of Communications
Geraldine Henrich-Koenis, Deputy Director of Communications
Robert Meissner, Press Secretary
http://www.nclnet.org/newsweekpr1002.htm
Consumer Groups Criticize Newsweek for Transgressing Ethical
Bounds by Working with the Pharmaceutical Drug Lobby
Drug Lobby's Exclusive Sponsorship of Newsweek's Special Health Edition and
Other Joint Efforts Improperly Aided Drug Lobby's Agenda, Groups Claim
Washington D.C. - Five national consumer organizations today charged Newsweek magazine with transgressing ethical bounds by working with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in a way that promotes the drug lobby's public policy agenda. In a joint letter to Newsweek Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Richard M. Smith, the groups contended that, as a result of a "virtually unprecedented" special advertising relationship with the drug lobby, Newsweek allowed the drug lobby to use a supposedly independent media outlet "to promote its public policy agenda."
Jeffrey Dach MD
4700 Sheridan Suite T
Hollywood Fl 33021
954-983-1443
http://www.jeffreydach.com/
http://www.drdach.com/
http://www.naturalmedicine101.com/
http://www.truemedmd.com/
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