CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a new breed of television “doctor” who has a medical degree and thus must be a health authority. In fact, the opposite is true,  Pam Martens writes in "CNN's Sanjay Gupta, Laura Bush and the Marketing of Merck's Gardasil" in the political newsletter Counterpunch.

Gupta has repeatedly endorsed Merck’s controversial vaccine Gardasil as a means of preventing cervical cancer on the air and on his CNN blog in February.

“In fact, however, its clinical trials never tested for preventing cervical cancer,” wrote Martens. “The vaccine was tested for preventing pre cancerous lesions associated with two strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease.

Since these lesions can take 12 to 20 years to develop into cervical cancer and the clinical trials lasted less than five years, medical experts warn that the jury is still out on what impact this vaccine might have on cervical cancer rates."

"The results of Merck's clinical trials showed the efficacy of the vaccine was "modest," even for preventing pre cancerous lesions, among a general population of young women, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Eleven and twelve year old girls, the very target of proposed mandatory vaccination by Merck, were never tested at all for efficacy in pre-licensing clinical trials. Merck simply decided that the bodies of prepubescent girls would react the same as mature women to the vaccine."

What also doesn’t sit well with Martens is that Gupta is co-host of a program called AccentHealth, a waiting room TV network that bills itself as "an integrated health education company" and reaches 132 million viewers. Merck is a financial sponsor.

"Given the incestuous nature of 'integration,' should Dr. Sanjay Gupta have revealed to his CNN viewers during his extolling of the virtues of Gardasil that its manufacturer, Merck, was a financial sponsor of this integrated marketing scheme he co-hosts at AccentHealth?" she asked. "Inquiring minds not yet 'integrated' want to know."

Comments

I think that Sanjay Gupta's credibility is at stake. In order to insure integrity in his reporting, he needs to openly declare such conflicts of interest to the public. His negative comments about Moore's film Sicko are also worrying, in my view.

Posted by: Nancy S. | Jul 26, 2007 5:17:56 AM

 

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Dr. Gupta definitely has an agenda to push and medicine does not appear to be the motivating factor. He had a pulpit to actually make a difference but it seems his self interests motivate him more. Too bad.

Posted by: Doug Newton | Jul 26, 2007 5:25:05 AM

 

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THANK YOU for reminding people of the critical points that the Gardasil vaccine has only been tested for a few years and was not tested on the very people at whom it is being targeted most aggressively. It is very important that people are aware of these facts, whatever they decide.

I am inherently mistrustful of doctors who seek the media limelight -- and that includes holistic practitioners. I am especially mistrustful when they endorse products.

Posted by: fran | Jul 26, 2007 5:51:20 AM

 

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Unfortunately, these so-called "experts" are all over the media. A 'news' outlet wants a soundbite or a controversial opinion & they pretty much air anyone who will give it to them. And now they are going the way of all our politicians - bought & beholden to the highest bidder. Here we all are, scratching our heads as to what the truth is, having our worst fears being preyed upon again - are we saving or killing our children? Thanks, Merk. Thanks, media.Thanks Dr. Gupta.

Posted by: | Jul 26, 2007 7:17:58 AM

 

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Gupta is a neurosurgeon. He should be very careful about giving advice about Gynecology.

Posted by: | Jul 26, 2007 9:33:25 AM

 

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This seems to make the score:

Michael Moore 1
Dr. Sanjay Gupta 0

Posted by: Richard S. | Jul 26, 2007 9:33:29 AM

 

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I GUESS I'VE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK. I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF GUPTA SINCE HE FIRST SHOWED UP. THANK YOU FOR SHAKING ME OUT OF MY NAIVETE TREE...REMINDING ME TO BE A LITTLE MORE CRITICAL BEFORE I ASSIGN GURUSHIP TO SOMEONE.

Posted by: MJ SCHADE | Jul 26, 2007 9:36:29 AM

 

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I have NEVER trusted Gupta; once, seeing him when he first started, initiate CPR on someone who had passed out but was still breathing, and taking kudos for it on camera, I knew he was a phony. He is all about self-promotion and always has been... this new revelation is no surprise.

short quiz - Do you know what you call someone who just barely passes his board proficiency exams? "Doctor". There are a lot of "doctors" out there who have no business with the title. Thank goodness there are many more who are proficient and well-qualified. The only problem is that trial and error is the only way to discover which is which, especially if you have no medical training.

Posted by: EmerMedTech | Jul 26, 2007 9:44:30 AM

 

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This latest factual information that you have shared within the context of your column regarding this 'MD' personality and this vaccine is invaluable. As a wholistic health practitioner in a Western medicine world, I deal with these kinds of issues on a daily basis. What are the facts, what are the pharmaceutical companies marketing, and what is really best for our bodies? Having been a former clinical drug researcher, I've lived the corporate life and left because I chose the profession of health care for more altruistic reasons, not for money and greed. Thanks Julie for helping all to see through the blitz of health care marketing which affects the general public so much more than they realize in their daily health care decisions.

Posted by: Kris | Jul 26, 2007 9:45:20 AM

 

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People who go to the media for medical advice should be treated by someone dealing with mental disorders. Why question just the medical information received there? Julie has a wealth of information to explore if she is questioning media and media's agenda.

Posted by: Bob | Jul 26, 2007 10:07:54 AM

 

Swanny Note to Bob: Who are you and why do you bash the writer of this information piece. I find people like YOU to be suspicious.

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2007/07/do-you-trust-cn.html