Introduction
Summary of the Book Follow the Science by Sharyl Attkisson. Before moving forward, let’s take a quick look at the book. Imagine opening a door into a world where health decisions seem obvious, only to discover secret deals, hidden side effects, and silent struggles behind the scenes. In this landscape, government agencies partner closely with the industries they’re meant to regulate. Scientific data bends under corporate influence, and rushed decisions sometimes overshadow patient safety. You see laboratories testing unknowing patients, officials insisting on cures that prove questionable, and media stories that confuse more than clarify. You glimpse doctors wrestling with mysterious long-term conditions, while institutions downplay troubling findings. In this environment, everyday people wonder who to trust. Beneath glossy brochures and confident announcements lies a tangled web that often puts profits before people. By looking closely at these intricate stories, you’ll gain insights to make better-informed health choices and see why skepticism can be a lifesaving skill.
Chapter 1: Unveiling the Unseen Hazards Behind Post-9/11 Bioterrorism Vaccine Preparations and Lingering Fears.
After the tragic events of 9/11, an atmosphere of dread and vulnerability swept across the United States. Government leaders, public health officials, and security agencies scrambled to prepare for any unimaginable threat that might strike next. Among these fears, the possibility of bioterrorism loomed large. Biological agents like smallpox, long eradicated from the public sphere, suddenly seemed like potential weapons in the hands of unseen enemies. In this climate, vaccines rapidly emerged as key protective measures, hastily deployed to military personnel, healthcare workers, and first responders. With a nation still in shock, few paused to examine potential risks. Urgency took priority over caution. Many believed that speed was critical, assuming that any drawbacks from experimental or lesser-tested vaccines were simply unfortunate but necessary. This early environment seeded a series of unsettling practices destined to influence health decisions for decades.
Early smallpox vaccination campaigns illustrated how swiftly the line between prudent defense and potential harm could blur. The vaccine had once helped eradicate smallpox, a historical triumph that saved countless lives. Yet, the old formula carried serious side effects. For every million vaccinations, a small handful might suffer lethal complications, such as severe heart inflammation or brain swelling. Officials acknowledged these risks but downplayed them, reasoning that the threat of bioterrorism outweighed the odds of fatal reactions. In the rush to preempt an attack, reporting systems for adverse events remained rudimentary, relying on voluntary disclosures and minimal follow-up. If someone died unexpectedly, it was often impossible to trace the cause back to a recently administered vaccine. In this climate, hidden casualties could amass quietly, leaving families and communities confused and without clear answers.
High-profile examples soon illustrated the dark side of this rushed approach. When NBC journalist David Bloom died from a blood clot after receiving both smallpox and anthrax vaccines while reporting from war zones, initial explanations avoided linking his death to immunizations. Only after careful scrutiny did unsettling questions arise. Could Bloom’s death, and others like it, have been at least partly connected to these hastily administered shots? Such suspicions rarely found easy resolution. Underreporting of vaccine-related injuries was pervasive, driven partly by the fear that acknowledging such cases would undermine public confidence and weaken national resolve. As a result, public health strategies often moved forward without transparent, data-driven reassessments. While leaders hoped to present a united front against invisible enemies, they sometimes ended up obscuring inconvenient truths.
Over time, the initial wave of bioterrorism-preparedness vaccinations began to wane. As more adverse events emerged, officials quietly scaled back certain programs. The national conversation rarely dove into the complex ethical dilemmas behind these decisions. Government agencies had answered the call to protect their people from potential horrors, but at what cost? Inside closed-door meetings, some health officials questioned whether these efforts had placed public trust, safety, and informed consent at risk. Instead of triggering a renewed dedication to transparency, these incidents mostly receded into the background. The foundations laid in the wake of 9/11—rushed decision-making, incomplete reporting systems, and suppressed vaccine safety debates—would later reemerge in different contexts. Such patterns highlight a systemic issue: when fear drives policy, the voices advocating careful scrutiny often struggle to be heard.
Chapter 2: The Shrouded World of Informed Consent Ethics in Controversial Secretive Medical Experiments.
The principle of informed consent stands as one of the most cherished pillars in medical research. It promises that individuals participating in experiments clearly understand the risks, benefits, and purpose before they agree. In theory, this protects patients and their families from being unwitting test subjects. Yet, in certain ambitious projects, these principles have been quietly sidestepped. One telling example was the Support Baby Oxygen Study, conducted between 2005 and 2009. Mothers of premature infants were led to believe they were simply receiving special care and monitoring. In truth, their babies were placed into research groups with manipulated oxygen levels. Medical staff, prevented from adjusting the levels, effectively tested a risky hypothesis on fragile newborns without fully disclosing potential dangers, including blindness, brain damage, and even death.
This study involved top-tier institutions like Duke and Yale, places the public trusts for cutting-edge medicine. Yet even these renowned hospitals participated in a trial that skirted full honesty. Instead of carefully outlining severe possible outcomes, researchers framed the study as supportive care. Parents, under emotional duress due to their infants’ precarious conditions, believed they were opting into beneficial assistance. They had no idea their newborns were essentially lab subjects in a high-stakes experiment. When investigations finally exposed the truth, the Office for Human Research Protections declared the consent process ethically deficient. Still, repercussions were limited. Academic politics shielded major institutions from meaningful accountability. This striking failure of transparency proved that even well-respected medical centers could drift from moral guidelines under pressure to advance scientific knowledge.
The consequences of this scenario reverberated beyond the individual families affected. Once trust in the medical establishment is dented, it becomes harder for the public to accept future treatments and interventions without suspicion. The entire system relies on the assumption that doctors, researchers, and institutions will not hide life-threatening details from participants. When those assumptions prove false, skepticism flourishes. These ethical breaches highlight that groundbreaking research sometimes chases knowledge at a human cost. While innovation is essential, sacrificing informed consent seeds deeper mistrust. If parents of vulnerable infants cannot rely on transparent communication, who can? Such incidents also fuel suspicions that other sensitive areas of healthcare, including drug approvals and vaccine safety, might harbor similar shadows. Unseen forces, be they commercial interests or institutional pride, can override patient welfare.
The Support Baby Oxygen Study becomes more than just one unethical trial—it’s a warning sign. It urges us to question how widely such practices might extend. Are there other trials where participants are not fully informed, where consent forms are layered with technical language that masks genuine risk? The lack of severe penalties against prestigious institutions signals that ethical lapses can go largely unchecked if political and financial influences are at play. Public outrage, when not stoked by media attention, may fade too quickly. This sets a dangerous precedent: profit motives, reputational concerns, or hasty scientific ambition can trump patient rights. The next frontier of medical innovation may hold incredible promise, but if it is built on concealed truths, we risk undermining the very moral compass guiding healthcare.
Chapter 3: Untangling the Controversial Approval of Aduhelm and Unraveling Trust in Healthcare Oversight.
In 2021, the drug Aduhelm promised a breakthrough for millions battling Alzheimer’s disease. This medication aimed at clearing amyloid plaques in the brain was heralded as a potential game-changer. Yet the fanfare soon gave way to intense controversy. Clinical trials initially halted due to weak evidence that Aduhelm truly helped patients. Then, in a puzzling move, the manufacturer Biogen reanalyzed partial data and convinced the FDA to greenlight the drug. Critics asked: how could a medication with such shaky support earn approval? This episode kindled suspicion that the lines separating pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, and scientific integrity were blurring. Patients and families, desperately seeking hope, found themselves in the crossfire of competing interests and compromised oversight.
An unusual FDA-Biogen collaboration raised eyebrows, as the two entities jointly produced reports framing Aduhelm’s data in a more favorable light. Members of the FDA’s own advisory committee were stunned. Ten experts voted against approval, citing insufficient evidence. Yet the FDA sided with Biogen, proceeding as if the stark warnings had never been issued. This infuriated many scientists, patient advocates, and doctors who believed the FDA’s sacred role was to shield the public from inadequate treatments. Instead, the agency seemed swayed by the pharmaceutical giant’s narrative. The decision rang alarm bells, fueling concerns that even agencies intended to protect patients could yield to industry pressure, financial influence, or a desire to show swift progress against daunting diseases.
Beyond Aduhelm’s contested efficacy, the staggering price tag—initially $56,000 per year—placed enormous strain on Medicare and taxpayers. For a drug with uncertain benefits, this cost triggered moral and economic questions. Would insurance programs buckle under pressure? Who truly benefited from the arrangement? Adding to the unease were reports of serious side effects such as brain swelling and patient deaths. Although the company denied a direct causal link, these emerging red flags demanded more thorough scrutiny. Still, the FDA seemed reluctant to revisit its decision. This stubbornness amplified perceptions of a broken system where corporate profits overshadow patient well-being, and where regulatory bodies might no longer serve as fair arbiters.
The Aduhelm affair set a precedent that rippled into the future. In 2023, the FDA approved another Biogen offering, Lekembe, under similarly controversial circumstances. Again, the data showcased only marginal benefits. Yet it cleared the regulatory hurdles, priced at $26,500 per year. Observers wondered if the FDA’s standards were eroding. Was the agency’s approval now something that influential companies could effectively purchase through lobbying, data manipulation, and strategic spin? These persistent concerns corroded trust in healthcare oversight and made the public increasingly wary of new treatments. Without robust, independent checks on the approval pipeline, patients risk becoming pawns in profit-driven games. This murky environment primes us to look more critically at vaccine oversight and other crucial elements of public health policy.
Chapter 4: Navigating Government Control, Concealed Vaccine Hazards, and the Enduring Struggle for Transparency.
Vaccines have, for generations, stood as emblematic solutions against some of humanity’s worst diseases. They have wiped out smallpox, dramatically reduced polio, and saved millions of lives. Yet, underneath this bright legacy lies a darker undercurrent. When governments, influenced by pharmaceutical interests, shape the vaccine narrative, serious questions arise. Some rare but severe side effects, like neurological damage or immune complications, remain under-discussed. Parents, encountering sudden and unexplained injuries in their children following immunizations, often find themselves lost in a complex system that offers no clear path to accountability. The result is a lingering tension: vaccines are vital tools, but lack of transparent risk communication erodes confidence.
Central to this dilemma is the special legal shield protecting vaccine manufacturers in countries like the United States. When severe vaccine injuries occur, victims cannot directly sue the company that produced the shot. Instead, they must appeal to a special entity known as the Vaccine Court, which operates under strict rules and limitations. This court awards compensation in a small fraction of cases, and its proceedings are largely unknown to most citizens. This closed-door process reflects a larger issue: how can the public trust a system designed to hide financial consequences from those who crafted and sold the product? While regulators insist this model prevents the collapse of vital immunization programs, it simultaneously breeds suspicion that profits are prioritized over safety.
Historical cases highlight that even widely accepted vaccines have triggered serious harm. For example, earlier iterations of certain vaccines led to long-term neurological conditions in rare instances. Officials often brushed aside these events as statistical outliers, not worth challenging the greater good narrative. But for affected families, these outliers were life-altering. When information surfaces—like government settlements quietly acknowledging a link between vaccines and certain conditions—public trust falters. If families discover that known risks were downplayed, or that protective steps were delayed, they may lose faith not just in one vaccine, but in the entire medical establishment. The silence and obfuscation surrounding these incidents can become as damaging as the injuries themselves, undermining decades of public health progress.
The urgent need for honesty and open communication grows even clearer in times of widespread crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. As new vaccines rolled out rapidly, governments promised they were safe and effective. Yet, emerging contradictory data and shifting guidance left many confused. High-profile figures who advocated vaccination found themselves catching the virus multiple times. The discrepancy between official claims and lived reality fueled doubts. If institutions fail to openly acknowledge known risks or uncertainties, the public may turn to rumors, misinformation, and distrust. In such a high-stakes environment, restoring faith requires embracing clarity over spin. Otherwise, systemic secrecy and half-truths risk leaving individuals skeptical of every medical recommendation, from childhood immunizations to emergency disease countermeasures.
Chapter 5: How Misinformation and Confusing Narratives Corroded Public Confidence During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
As COVID-19 surged, top leaders and trusted experts initially projected a confident image: vaccines would halt infection and transmission, isolation would curb the spread, and following official guidance would ensure safety. Yet as time passed, glaring contradictions emerged. By July 2022, when President Biden caught COVID-19 twice despite being thoroughly vaccinated, the public started questioning earlier assurances. Similar high-profile infections affected Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Rochelle Walensky. These incidents contradicted the narrative that full vaccination guaranteed immunity. The complexity and evolving nature of the virus were understandable, but the certainty with which leaders spoke earlier began to look like overpromising. When reality diverged from official statements, skepticism flourished.
Another early policy error involved advising people to stay indoors. While intending to reduce contact, this approach led many into poorly ventilated homes. Soon, data surfaced: a large percentage of hospitalized COVID patients had been diligently isolating at home. Yet public health officials rarely clarified these findings. Instead of encouraging outdoor activities—where the virus struggled to spread—some authorities doubled down on strict indoor isolation measures. Governors and health departments presented confusing instructions that clashed with emerging evidence. This rigidity eroded public trust. Many people felt as if no one would admit to missteps or adjust strategies when confronted with new data. This climate of stubbornness made it easier for rumors and misinformation to take root.
Media reporting often worsened the confusion. Events like the 2020 Sturgis motorcycle rally were labeled ‘super-spreader’ gatherings. Later studies suggested such claims were exaggerated or unfounded, but initial panic-driven headlines were rarely corrected. Meanwhile, prominent health officials sent mixed messages. Early on, Dr. Fauci published medical papers suggesting COVID-19’s lethality might be more modest, yet he publicly presented it as far deadlier. Similarly, mask guidance flip-flopped. This constant shifting of stances with inadequate explanations created a confusing puzzle. The public, watching experts contradict themselves, struggled to discern reliable facts. Over time, many individuals concluded that official voices were not always aligned with scientific truth, but rather swayed by shifting political winds.
The fatality rate miscalculation was another glaring issue. Early on, health agencies reported alarming death rates without accounting for asymptomatic carriers. Once these silent infections were factored in, it became clear that initial mortality figures were inflated. But by the time revisions surfaced, fear had cemented itself. Likewise, the narrative that vaccines would completely prevent infection lost credibility as breakthrough cases multiplied. Officials frequently downplayed natural immunity, even as evidence mounted that prior infection offered robust protection. These inconsistencies came at a steep cost. Many citizens, once trusting, grew wary. Today, disillusionment lingers, and some are hesitant to rely on official guidance. Misinformation did not just come from fringe sources; it also seeped from institutions once considered bastions of reliability, weakening the very pillars meant to protect societies.
Chapter 6: When Political Interests Eclipse Genuine Science in COVID-19 Treatment Debates and Policies.
In the frantic search for effective COVID-19 treatments before vaccines became widely available, several existing medications were tested. Among them, hydroxychloroquine showed potential in early observational studies. Yet, rather than allowing careful scientific exploration, the drug’s reputation quickly became entangled in politics. Powerful voices praised it as a miracle cure, while others labeled it dangerous or useless, often without a balanced review of evidence. This politicization set a troubling precedent: a medication’s worth was judged not solely by data, but by who endorsed it and how the media framed it. The public witnessed experts cherry-pick findings to suit a narrative, leaving people unsure whether to trust official recommendations or suspect hidden motives.
As debates raged, alarming reports emerged from the Veterans Affairs healthcare system, suggesting increased deaths among COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine. Media outlets amplified this finding, painting the drug as lethal. Later, critics pointed out flaws in the study’s methodology and timing, noting it was administered too late to help. Simultaneously, another drug—Remdesivir—won government favor despite limited effectiveness. While hydroxychloroquine faced strong restrictions, Remdesivir gained emergency use authorization. Observers asked: why such preferential treatment? Some suspected financial incentives. Remdesivir’s developer stood to gain significantly, whereas hydroxychloroquine was cheap and off-patent. This imbalance raised questions about whether the public health establishment was genuinely following data, or influenced by corporate profit and political image-building.
Physicians who attempted to use hydroxychloroquine early in illness, when it might have the best chance to work, encountered professional backlash. Research trials were halted, social media censored discussions, and reputations were tarnished. Political alignment, not objective inquiry, appeared to drive decision-making. In this environment, everyone suffered. Patients who might have benefited from early treatment lost possible options. Doctors who challenged the prevailing narrative faced condemnation and isolation from the mainstream medical community. The complexity of evaluating a drug’s effectiveness became overshadowed by public relations battles and ideological showdowns. Even if hydroxychloroquine’s benefits proved modest, the hostility toward exploring it signaled a willingness to sacrifice honest inquiry at the altar of partisan positioning.
Such politicization didn’t vanish when vaccines arrived. Instead, it ingrained suspicion in the public psyche. If political interests swayed COVID-19 treatment decisions, what else could be manipulated? This doubt seeped into people’s understanding of healthcare recommendations, drug approvals, and vaccine rollouts. Observers noted that financial gains for certain companies, combined with the media’s selective coverage, created a landscape where medical science could be pulled off course. Could cheaper, generic drugs be sidelined if they threatened lucrative markets for newer products? The inability to distinguish careful scientific assessment from political spin left lasting scars on the relationship between citizens and healthcare authorities. In a world where profits and power can overshadow facts, restoring trust would require a profound shift in priorities.
Chapter 7: Unrecognized Long-Term Consequences of Spike Protein Disruptions and Puzzling Lingering Vaccine Complications.
As the pandemic persisted, a new dilemma emerged: long-lasting conditions seemingly triggered by both COVID-19 and, for some, its vaccines. Often referred to as Long Covid or, more controversially, Long Vax, these chronic ailments showcased a puzzling link to spike proteins and microscopic blood clots. By early 2024, an estimated quarter of adults reported persistent symptoms, including those fully vaccinated. These individuals suffered brain fog, muscle weakness, heart palpitations, and more. Yet, mainstream medical guidelines lagged behind, leaving patients to fend for themselves. While health authorities had assured the public that vaccines were overwhelmingly safe, the experiences of these sufferers hinted at complications that no one had fully acknowledged.
Doctors were often at a loss to explain why previously healthy people now struggled with strange, stubborn symptoms. Many general practitioners lacked protocols to diagnose or treat these post-infection or post-vaccination syndromes, since official bodies had provided few clear directives. Without well-established guidelines, physicians sometimes dismissed patients’ complaints as psychosomatic, or blamed unrelated conditions. This left people feeling unheard and abandoned. The cycle of neglect deepened frustration and mistrust. If health systems struggled to address unexpected long-term effects, what did that say about their preparedness to handle novel complications?
Amid this uncertainty, a small cadre of independent doctors took action. One such example was Dr. Jordan Vaughan in Alabama. He dedicated himself to investigating microclots—tiny, nearly invisible blood clots that standard tests often miss. By treating hundreds of patients suffering from persistent symptoms with anticoagulants and other therapies, he helped many regain mobility, clarity, and a better quality of life. His approach suggested that the spike protein, present in both the virus and vaccine-induced immune responses, might trigger abnormal clotting. These microclots, in turn, could starve tissues of oxygen, causing a domino effect of health problems. Although not a universally accepted explanation, Vaughan’s work offered a lifeline for those the system seemed to have forgotten.
Slowly, some research institutions began to acknowledge the possibility of long-term complications tied to the pandemic. New studies hinted that spike proteins lingered, triggering inflammatory responses and subtle vascular damage. Yet large-scale recognition from the medical establishment remained elusive. Patients, desperate for answers, gravitated toward doctors exploring off-label treatments and novel testing methods. This pattern underscored a painful truth: bureaucratic rigidity and corporate priorities can delay recognition of new diseases. Without swift institutional adaptation, those suffering become unwitting casualties of a slow and hesitant response. As the future unfolds, these unresolved questions and overlooked conditions spotlight the urgent need to adapt research, acknowledge uncertainties, and craft patient-centered strategies that embrace the full complexity of human health.
Chapter 8: Following Money Trails, Corporate Influence, and the Unfinished Quest for Medical Accountability.
Beneath the surface of these controversies—rushed vaccine programs, ethically questionable experiments, dubious drug approvals, politicized treatments, and unrecognized long-term conditions—lies a powerful undercurrent of financial interests. The medical industry, including pharmaceutical companies, often wields immense clout. It funds research, influences academic institutions, lobbies policymakers, and collaborates closely with regulatory bodies. Over time, this web of relationships can tangle the pure pursuit of scientific truth. When profits loom large, data might be spun, risks minimized, and critics marginalized. The result is a landscape where challenging the official narrative can jeopardize one’s career, funding, or reputation. This ecosystem is not easily dismantled; it thrives on complexity, secrecy, and carefully curated appearances.
Corporate influence also reaches into the heart of public communication. Media outlets, sometimes reliant on pharmaceutical advertising, may highlight certain studies and ignore others. Think tanks and industry-funded researchers produce reports that shape policy debates, while lobbyists push legislation that favors certain drug approvals or indemnities. Subtle pressures guide the health narrative that reaches ordinary people. Over time, these subtle nudges create a worldview where critical voices struggle to break through. Patients, doctors, and policymakers may have difficulty discerning fact from spin. Without transparency, the entire system risks drifting from its fundamental mission: improving human well-being. Instead, it may become a tangled marketplace of ideas shaped by who pays and who profits.
Yet hope remains. Independent journalists, whistleblowers, patient advocates, and courageous physicians refuse to accept this status quo. They track the money trails, demanding audits, filing Freedom of Information requests, and exposing hidden conflicts of interest. Some lawmakers push for stronger oversight and stricter separation between regulatory agencies and the industries they monitor. Grassroots movements call for open-data initiatives, urging that all clinical trial information be readily available for scrutiny. These actions represent the first steps toward rebalancing the scales. If light is thrown into the darkest corners—where questionable deals are struck and inconvenient data buried—then a more honest and accountable medical field could emerge.
The quest for accountability does not end with unveiling past misdeeds. Ongoing vigilance is required to prevent future compromises. The public can learn to ask better questions and demand solid evidence. Medical professionals can champion transparency and challenge entrenched power structures. Regulators, if guided by integrity rather than profit, can restore credibility. Restoring trust in healthcare will take time, persistence, and moral courage. There are no simple fixes or shortcuts. But if society commits to a culture of openness, honesty, and patient-centered values, it may become possible to create a healthcare landscape that truly reflects science at its best—one that prioritizes healing over profit, evidence over spin, and informed consent over hidden agendas. The next step is understanding how we got here, and that journey begins now.
All about the Book
Explore the pursuit of truth in science with Sharyl Attkisson’s ‘Follow the Science.’ This compelling narrative delves into critical topics of public health, misinformation, and the power dynamics influencing scientific discourse.
Sharyl Attkisson is an investigative journalist and author known for her fearless pursuit of the truth, particularly in health and political arenas, making her insights invaluable to readers seeking transparency.
Journalists, Healthcare professionals, Scientists, Policy makers, Educators
Science fiction reading, Investigative journalism, Public speaking, Health advocacy, Critical thinking
Misinformation in science, Public health policy, Media bias, Transparency in research
The quest for truth in our modern world often requires courage and an unwavering commitment to objectivity.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, John Stossel, Candace Owens
Edward R. Murrow Award, Emmy Award, The National Headliner Award
1. What role does critical thinking play in science? #2. How can we identify reliable sources of information? #3. Why is skepticism important in scientific inquiry? #4. What biases affect the interpretation of scientific data? #5. How can we differentiate between facts and opinions? #6. What are the dangers of misinformation in science? #7. How does media influence public perception of science? #8. Why should we question established scientific narratives? #9. What are common fallacies in scientific arguments? #10. How do political agendas shape scientific discourse? #11. Why is transparency crucial in scientific research? #12. How can one effectively assess scientific studies? #13. What steps increase our understanding of complex topics? #14. How should we approach conflicting scientific reports? #15. What role do peer reviews play in research validity? #16. How can personal beliefs impact scientific understanding? #17. What strategies enhance our scientific literacy skills? #18. Why is reproducibility important in scientific experiments? #19. How do economic factors influence scientific research? #20. What responsibilities do scientists have to the public?
Follow the Science, Sharyl Attkisson, science in health, public health policies, critical thinking, media bias, COVID-19 analysis, evidence-based science, vaccination discussions, health misinformation, journalism in science, government and science
https://www.amazon.com/dp/2810060541
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