Interesting Email Exchange....

General Discussion Media & Awareness
#1

I had this email exchange with a reporter (Alexi) with the New Jersey Star-Ledger today:

[i]Alexi -
Hope this finds you well. I just wanted to let you know that I am disappointed that a story about PFS and the research has yet to appear in the Star-Ledger. I got the sense in talking to you that you were a bit incredulous about PFS - and that’s too bad. I can assure you that not only is this disease real, but devastating in its scope and persistence. Its literally hell on earth…no young man should ever have to go through this, but unfortunately many have. A story would have been great to help the men already poisoned find a cure - but more so to help warn men of the true dangers of this drug.
As one of thousands of victims, you must imagine our frustration with a drug that permanently damages your body, and yet to have doctors, press and others believe the drug company and their bullshit that “their is no casual relationship”

Thanks for nothing -

A[/i]

He replied:

[i]A,
I’m understand your frustrations and sorry I gave you that impression. I sympathize with your situation, but clearly I’m not as well versed on it as you are. I approach all my stories with a healthy dose of skepticism and empathy. At least I try.
You’re half right, though. My editor is far more skeptical than I am, and trying to convince him has been part of the battle. In fact, we usually don’t even report out studies until findings are released. I haven’t been able to speak with the study investigators yet but was told it would be several months.

The story was about the study, with people like you in there to give perspective. Dr. Santmann is from New Jersey so that was the hook all along. We’re a regional paper so trying to find the New Jersey angle is important.

Sincerely,
Alexi[/i]

I had also talked to him on the phone, and I got the impression that both he and his editor/boss were a bit incredulous about our story. I got the sense from him the main reason is that all the Propecia victims that have spoken out have used pseudonyms and hidden behind a cloak of partial or total anonymity. I then agreed to and told him my whole story using my real name. He has yet to publish the story in part because he needs more proof - more “unhidden” men.
I have a LOT to lose by using my real name - I have a great teaching job at one of the best high schools in the US - but if faced with having PFS the rest of my life or having my students and colleagues know some embarrassing details about my life, its a no brainer. Please - if you are like me and sick of hiding, sick of lying and covering up your problem, please step forward and email Alexi and offer to tell your story using your real name. What can you really lose that you haven’t already lost? The publicity alone from this kind of story could not only help our cause, but could save a few more innocent men who are thinking of taking this poison. The only power we really have right now is in our stories - but no one wants to step up and tell theirs. Please join me in standing up.
youtube.com/watch?v=s8UL_9R_W-Y

Alexi’s Email:
afriedman@starledger.com

#2

I think you meant to post this in the media section. No worries…

In the mean time, help get this little piece of information to every journalist, FDA Official, Pharma blogger, and scumbag strip mall lawyer in the country.

I already have one potetial bite.

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#3

I disagree. We have a ton of power, we just don’t use it. We have the proof Merck knew finasteride causes persistent side effects, but not only did they not warn patients, they continue to deny it. That gives us a unique opportunity. The proof that Merck is lying is being sent to each Account Merck is following on Twitter, along with every FDA Official responsible for monitoring Propecia and Proscar, and every health journalist and pharma blogger imaginable.

We’re doing something right. We had Merck’s spokeman call us and tell us to stop what we were doing. Then, that same spokesman left the company a few months later, leaving the position to the hapless Lainie Keller. I hope others join in, and stop with the phantom estrogen imbalance theories. We got Merck in the crosshairs.

#4

When was this and who did he call?

#5

Everytime Merck lies to the media, I get to make another one of these.

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If anyone else wants to expose Merck, feel free to take the initiative. The tools are all laid out for you.

#6

I’m with you SA. I retweet Recall Propecia, and I am sending this to Alexi. Keep up the good work.

#7

I have first hand experience how dysfunctional Merck is. Merck told me “we called your prescribing doctor and he told us you never reported your side effects to him.” This was suppose to be Merck’s “Gotcha!” moment. But they should have had better communication between their departments if they wanted to play “gotcha!” I told them that it is true I never reported my side effects to my prescribing doctor because when I reported my side effects to Merck they told me they would report my side effects to my prescribing doctor.

Clearly, Merck is a dysfunctional unit with much miscommunication between its departments. We need to exploit that to our advantage. The media and litigation departments’ strategy is to always claim “no causal relationship” between finasteride and side effects after discontinuation. Someone should have told them that scientific literature describing persisent finasteride side effects have been in their Internal database for nearly two decades, and it’s been online for anyone to see for over five years. Now it’s our job to make certain parties aware of Merck’s screw-ups.

Let’s get to work.