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The Constant Gardener

post #1 of 23
1/28/06 at 4:04pm
Thread Starter 
I know this movie has been out for awhile but I just saw it last night.

Wondering if anyone else watched it? Really makes you wonder, the drug companies were experimenting (studies) on the poor Africans, making statements like it didn't matter if the drug killed them because they were going to die anyway. Those that did die during the study were buried and their records destroyed, so they never existed. Hey, at least the end result of the study shows no deaths, and that's a good thing, right?

A human rights activist was looking into it and sent a report to some big wiggie that advised the drug was killing people and they needed to reformulate the drug, but they couldn't have that. You see, if no one made them aware of the deaths, then they wouldn't be aware of any deaths. Now that someone was attempting to make them aware, they had to kill her. Also, it would take several more years and millions of dollars to rework the drug. The drug companies were compared to the gun runners.

Also, IC was stamped on a card that one of the Africans had when getting medical treatment, and when the dead woman's husband (while investigatin his wife's death) questioned what that meant, he was told informed consent. However, informed consent in this case meant if you didn't agree to this treatment (and they were not told it was experimental) then you nor your children would get medical care and were turned away.

Good movie. Wondering if anyone else got a chance to see it.
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post #2 of 23
1/28/06 at 6:29pm
I wanted to see it but haven't yet...I kept seeing the ads for the DVD with the sound byte "big drug companies are right up there with arms dealers" and it piqued my interest...I'll have to rent it next weekend...

J

P.S. Thanks for the info...
post #3 of 23
1/28/06 at 6:59pm
If I suggest it to my dd to watch it with dh (MD) will it get them into a battle? Will he shut it off in disgust? He is somewhat sensitive to "big pharma - MD = drug pusher" movies.

Just wondering would you suggest it?
post #4 of 23
1/28/06 at 7:04pm
It's a great movie! I loved it and cried a ton.

As for it bothering MDs....I don't think so--but I guess it depends on how sensitive he is.
post #5 of 23
1/28/06 at 8:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gitti
If I suggest it to my dd to watch it with dh (MD) will it get them into a battle? Will he shut it off in disgust? He is somewhat sensitive to "big pharma - MD = drug pusher" movies.

Just wondering would you suggest it?
I would suggest it. One of the good guys was a Dr that was working w/the slain woman. It was more focused on the abuse of the Africans and the drug companies taking advantage of a situation.
post #6 of 23
1/28/06 at 10:24pm
My dh is a doc and really enjoyed the movie. Just my 2 cents.
post #7 of 23
1/28/06 at 10:47pm
I just went and got it. Will watch it tomorrow a.m.

Thanks!
post #8 of 23
1/29/06 at 6:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sophiekat
My dh is a doc and really enjoyed the movie. Just my 2 cents.
Sophiekat, I see your siggie asks why there are no pro vax smileys. I am guessing that is probably because Mothering.com is geared toward NATURAL family living, and vaccines are FAR from natural! Hence, no pro-vax smiley, just doesn't jive w/the whole meaning of the site.

Also see this,

http://www.mothering.com/guest_edito...iet_place.html
post #9 of 23
1/29/06 at 7:05pm
Hi suschi,
Since there was recently a thread on this (pro-vax smileys) that was pulled, I'm not going to get into the same debate here -- both my dh and I liked this movie and found it thought-provoking and I'd like for others to see it.
If you'd like to know my position or ask questions of me please pm me.
post #10 of 23
1/29/06 at 7:44pm
Excellent movie. Had me in tears, also.
post #11 of 23
1/29/06 at 9:36pm
We saw it. Very realistic how BIG Pharma manipulates and uses people. I feel so bad for those poor Africans. If only they would go back to their roots and their 'witch' doctors, they would be much better off. We only poison them. Actually I don't understand that they even use allopathic medicine that much.

Unless...they are somehow being coerced to use allopathic medicine???
post #12 of 23
1/29/06 at 10:30pm
Quote:
Unless...they are somehow being coerced to use allopathic medicine???
who knows. i went to an african aids orphans concert. and while i guess i can't use the word "coerced" they were given "gifts" like education, food, etc. if they became christians. who wouldn't? i was hoping to hear some traditional african music. instead it was songs about jesus.
post #13 of 23
1/29/06 at 11:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dingogirl
who knows. i went to an african aids orphans concert. and while i guess i can't use the word "coerced" they were given "gifts" like education, food, etc. if they became christians. who wouldn't? i was hoping to hear some traditional african music. instead it was songs about jesus.

OMG!
post #14 of 23
1/30/06 at 12:01am

I think the movie was based on real pharma -

Quote:
"The companies design the drug trials," Sharav says. "They select the subjects. They maintain and interpret the data. They select which parts get published. They choose who will become the reviewers in the prestigious medical journals. And they pick 'key opinion leaders,' who they pay handsomely" to promote the drugs.

"It's perfect," she concludes. "They have it made."

Who was the producer? And writer? They certainly know what is going on.
post #15 of 23
1/30/06 at 12:04am
This movie is based on a book by the same name. I haven't seen the movie yet, but the book is excellent and reveals a lot about the big pharma corporation that used the Africans for drug trials. Very interesting book.
post #16 of 23
1/30/06 at 12:06am
I read the book a while ago- really enjoyed it. In the end notes Le Carre mentions that the story is completely fictional, and that it probably doesn't come close to describing how bad big pharma is!
post #17 of 23
1/30/06 at 12:06am
Quote:
OMG! rolleyes

would you like it if atheists or satanists said they'd provide you with everything you need as long as you convert to their beliefs?
post #18 of 23
1/30/06 at 12:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dingogirl
would you like it if atheists or satanists said they'd provide you with everything you need as long as you convert to their beliefs?
My answer would be:

OMG!
post #19 of 23
1/30/06 at 12:19am
perhaps i misunderstood. i thought the rolleyes meant you thought my complaint was pointless. ?
post #20 of 23
1/30/06 at 12:48am
It doesn't sound that diffrent from the current WHO still using the whole-cell DPT vaccine simply because it is cost effective. Even after the last few studies that show the pertussis component to be only about 30% effective and that the whole-cell vaccine has far more side effects, they (WHO) persist in using it b/c it only costs a few american cents per vax.

That is criminal IMO.
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