1. World problems
  2. Disease mongering

Disease mongering

  • Invented illnesses

Nature

Disease mongering refers to the practice of widening the boundaries of illness to expand the market for treatments, often driven by pharmaceutical companies. This phenomenon can lead to the medicalization of normal life experiences, creating unnecessary anxiety and promoting the use of medications for conditions that may not require treatment. Critics argue that disease mongering undermines public health by fostering overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and increased healthcare costs, while also diverting attention from genuine health issues. Ultimately, it raises ethical concerns about the influence of commercial interests on medical definitions and patient care.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Background

The phrase disease mongering was coined by medical and science writer Lynn Payer in her 1992 book Disease-Mongers: How Doctors, Drug Companies, and Insurers Are Making You Feel Sick. Payer defined this deceitful practice as “trying to convince essentially well people that they are sick, or slightly sick people that they are very ill.”

Incidence

One of the earliest examples of disease mongering is Listerine, a chemical product formulated in 1879 and used as an antiseptic, even a floor cleaner, before its marketing to dentists for in-office oral care. Then Listerine's creators started selling it directly to consumers by inventing a disease that their product “cured”: halitosis, a term borrowed from antiquated medical texts and is nothing but bad breath. Halitosis was paraded as a disease that could have dire consequences for your personal and professional life. By taking advantage of people’s insecurities, and through the creation of manipulative soap-opera-like commercials, Listerine turned into a sought-after remedy for a previously non-existent malady.

According to The Save Institute: The disease osteoporosis was developed at a WHO conference in 1992. Prior to the conference, osteoporosis was a term to describe normal loss of bone mass with ageing, like wrinkles and grey hair, not a disease to be "cured" by prescription of drugs At the conference, it was decided that “normal” bone density was that of a 30-year-old woman, the age at which bone mass typically peaks. It’s normal for a 50-year-old’s density to be less than a 30-year-old’s, and it’s ridiculous to measure the bone density of a 70-year-old against that of someone four decades younger. But at the conference, it was decided that anything below this peak density number was “abnormal” and in need of treatment..."

Claim

Disease mongering is a critical issue that undermines public health and exploits vulnerable populations. By exaggerating the prevalence and severity of conditions, pharmaceutical companies manipulate perceptions, leading to unnecessary treatments and increased healthcare costs. This unethical practice not only fuels anxiety and stigma but also diverts attention from genuine health concerns. We must challenge this insidious trend to protect patients, promote informed decision-making, and ensure that healthcare prioritizes well-being over profit.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Counter-claim

Disease mongering is often overstated and distracts from genuine health issues. The focus on creating fear around minor ailments diverts attention and resources from serious diseases that truly impact lives. Instead of fostering awareness, it breeds unnecessary anxiety and over-medication. The medical community should prioritize real health challenges rather than sensationalizing trivial conditions. By doing so, we can ensure that attention and funding are directed where they are genuinely needed, benefiting public health overall.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

Narrower

Osteoporosis
Excellent
Bad breath
Unpresentable

Aggravates

Web link

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-being

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Biological classification
N/A
Content quality
Presentable
 Presentable
Language
English
D7NID
240485
Last update
Nov 2, 2022