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Ghostwritten medical journal articles about HRT should be retracted
William T. Creasman was listed as the author of an article written by a freelance writer for the December 1998 Journal of Women’s Health. The title: “Is there an association between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer?” The article points out that there is no “definitive evidence” that HRT is linked to breast cancer. But the dirty little secret behind that article in the medical journal is that Creasman didn’t actually write the article. It was authored by a writer for DesignWrite, a marketing firm that represented HRT-maker Wyeth, now owned by Pfizer. As the story was going to press, Wyeth was covering up evidence that proved otherwise. The drug company’s estrogen-plus-progestin HRT was, in fact, increasing a woman’s risk for breast cancer as well as heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
The advertisements no longer blanket magazines or fill television screens, but the message cannot be deleted. Over the years, millions of women were told that estrogen loss during menopause could be dangerous to their health, contributing to problems such as osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, tooth loss and blindness. It could also cause uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and mood swings. The ads said menopause was a nasty disease that could be eliminated by just taking a once-daily pill, a 
The message was heard loud and clear – powerful drug companies that make billions from products they know pose a significant risk of life-threatening health consequences to the people who take them, owe their victims. Big time.
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