A doctor has warned Australians to be on high alert after a new study revealed a concerning health trend. OPINION
Barely a week goes by when we aren’t bombarded with health campaigns urging us to check for cancer, manage our diabetes, reduce anxiety or lower our cholesterol.
But be wary of who is sending out the message.
If you’re looking over your shoulder for Big Pharma, it could be right in front of you.
Our study reveals the troubling truth about disease awareness campaigns – almost 75 per cent are being influenced by companies that stand to gain financially, raising serious ethical concerns.
Making matters worse is the lack of transparency. Only 37 per cent of the campaigns clearly disclosed their corporate ties on their main pages. The rest buried this information deep within sub-pages or did not disclose it at all, making it difficult to recognise the potential bias.
For instance, a campaign promoting breast cancer awareness might emphasise the benefits of mammograms and treatments that are profitable for certain companies, while downplaying or ignoring potential risks and alternative options.
Similarly, a campaign for diabetes awareness might push for particular medications or devices manufactured by the sponsoring companies without equally highlighting lifestyle changes or other non-commercial treatments.
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