Michelle Obama weighs in on the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic

The First Lady of the United States offers an insightful commentary to The Onion.

A division of Johnson & Johnson faces possible criminal charges resulting from a "phantom drug recall"

A word to the wise: if you are going to conduct a “phantom recall,” make sure to not drop your top secret instructions on the floor.

"Nervous Breakdown" or "Vital Exhaustion?" You decide.

An interesting article on the vague yet salient occurrence of nervous breakdowns.

Adderall awarded honorary degree from Harvard

The Onion reports here.

The Pharma Stealth Economy

Are patient support websites such as PatientsLikeMe.com exploiting sick people? “We are talking about a digital pharma stealth economy that is emerging,” says Jeff Chester, the director of the Center for Digital Democracy. Read more in the New York Times.

You can't trust athletes

So says Frank DeFord. Listen here for his commentary on performance-enhancing drugs.

The Price of Pleasure

Newsweek discusses a new documentary called "Orgasm, Inc.", which addresses the "selling of the female orgasm." Check it out here.

Are government investigations of pharma a sham?

"The government pretends to go after these guys, the companies pretend to follow the law, but it's just a game for the consumption of the masses; so people will think that the wheels of justice are actually moving," says Peter Rost, a former senior Pfizer marketing executive. Read more in Time.

Fraud at the Mayo

An immunology lab at the Mayo Clinic has retracted ten scientific papers (so far) and cancelled a clinical trial after a senior research associate was found guilty of falsifying data. The Scientist reports.

Macklin to FDA: Stop the Avandia Trial

Bioethicist Ruth Macklin has written a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg asking that the GSK Avandia trial be stopped. She says “this study violates principles in every guidance document in research ethics.” Read more at Pharmalot.

Pharma-funded Health Law Chair

Just as you thought universities were getting squeamish about conflicts of interest, the Seton Hall Law School names Frank Pasquale as the Schering-Plough Professor in Health Care Regulation and Enforcement, courtesy of a $2.5 million endowment. Read more here.

Pfizer scandal update

Drug reps for Wyeth (now Pfizer) allegedly disguised themselves as doctors to market Rapamune. Read it here.

Pfizer Scandal

In a stunning whistleblower lawsuit, the world's largest pharmaceutical company is being sued over the dangerous practice of illegally promoting a kidney transplant drug for unapproved uses -- and targeting African-Americans, even though they are at high risk of complications.

A "Stinky" Disease

Olfactory Reference Syndrome. Coming to a DSM near you. Check out this article in "The Body Odd" on MSNBC.

Vitamin Water, for your unhealth

Mmmm, colored water with sugar. The marketing tactics of Vitamin Water are discussed here.

[Don’t] Choke on this

The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling for the FDA to require warning labels on food items that may pose a choking hazard to children. Some (including food manufacturers) are not convinced labeling food will do anything to stop the hundreds of choking deaths that occur in US children each year. Click here to read more.

Rent-a-child part II

Coyle and Sharpe weigh in. To listen, click here.

The Medicated Soldier

At least one in six members of the military is taking a psychiatric drug, says The Military Times, often in cocktails of antipsychotics, antidepressants and stimulants. Is this really such a good idea?

Disclosure

Researchers will be required to disclose payments from drug companies that are greater than $5000, according to new proposed regulations. Click here to read more.

Rent-a-child comes to Australia

GlaxoSmithKline is paying Australians to sign up their kids for clinical trials of its H1N1 flu vaccine. "You just get parents pimping out their children for a quick buck," a whistleblower told The Sunday Telegraph. The story is here.