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Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

One week before Michael Moore’s hotly debated documentary Sicko was scheduled to open, Mark H. Rachesky, M.D. -- the founder and president of MHR Fund Management LLC -- purchased 33.4 percent (over 40 million shares) of Lions Gate stock.

Lions Gate (along with Weinstein Co.), the company distributing Sicko, had planned to release the film in over 1,600 theaters across the United States in June 2007. However, one week prior to the release (the same week that Rachesky made his purchase), the number was reduced to 400 theaters.

While this could be mere coincidence, some are questioning whether Rachesky’s stock purchase was made for controlling interests in Lions Gate. Typically, for a shareholder to gain major influence on a company, he or she would need to purchase at least 51 percent of the shares.

However, in certain instances an individual can maintain control with just 33.4 percent of shares… which is the exact amount that Rachesky purchased.

Further, Rachesky is involved with a number of health care companies who stand to be impacted by Moore’s provocative film. Rachesky is:

  • On the Board of Directors of Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

  • An investment broker for NovaDel Pharma, Inc.

  • The beneficial owner of Medical Nutrition USA, Inc.

  • The Director of Neose Technologies, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company

  • An investor in Emisphere Technologies, Inc., another biopharmaceutical company
Sicko examines the financial and medical struggles of Americans to get proper health care, and chronicles the experience of a group of World Trade Center rescue workers who travel to Cuba to get medical care, for free.

The Zetetic August 4, 2007



Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Ever since Sicko  was released, it has been pounded by criticism. Some claim that the rescue workers in the film got “VIP treatment” in Cuba while others say Moore was “fudging the facts.”

Clearly, there is a lot at stake when it comes to a film threatening to expose some of the pervasive problems in the U.S. health care system, and it would not be a stretch to assume that a big player in the pharmaceutical industry would attempt to limit viewers’ access to the film, as the article suggests.

If you have not yet seen Sicko, I would highly recommend it, as it provides an excellent introduction to the flaws plaguing the U.S. health care system.

I don’t, however, agree with Moore’s solution, which is essentially for the U.S. government to pick up the tab. What is wrong with this solution?

Most illness in this country is NOT acute trauma (where a government-paid system may make sense) but rather chronic degenerative diseases. If the government took on the costs of theses diseases, the country would likely become bankrupt rather quickly.

Remember, the United Sates is already paying more than $2 trillion a year for “health care,” -- and that’s without paying these extra costs.

What’s even more important, though, is that the majority of chronic illnesses could be prevented and treated if the country returned to preventative medicine that treated the cause of disease -- and valued nutrient-rich foods and exercise over artificial and often dangerous pharmaceutical products.

Please, rather than waiting for a change in the health care system to make you healthy, gain the vigor you deserve now by Taking Control of Your Health.



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Comment on This Article Community Comments (49)
 
 
Posted On Aug 08, 2007
Abuse, harass, humiliate, deceive, threaten, impersonate, intimidate or engage in any other abusive behaviors with those who comment on Mercola.com.

 
Chuck Jones
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 7/2007
Chuck Jones  
Replied

samurai
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
samurai  
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

BUT WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN ALL THE BEST HOSPITALS ARE PRIVATE HOSPITALS, THAT TAKE ONLY PRIVATE INSURANCE?  

I WAS ON MEDICAID ONCE, AND GOING TO COUNTY HOSPITALS IS HORRIBLE.  IF YOU FALL ILL, YOU HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE AFTER ALL OF THE HEROIN ADDICTS OR GANG MEMBERS THAT HAVE SHOT THEMSELVES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BEST SOLUTION IS.  I DO KNOW THAT I AM PAYING $200.00 A MONTH IN HEALTHCARE, AND ENDED UP STILL PAYING $130.00 FOR A VISIT TO THE PEDIATRICIAN'S OFFFICE.  I DON'T GET IT.  



cmichaelo
Novice User Novice User Joined On 2/2007
cmichaelo  
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

As much as I dislike private hospitals, as much I also detest them because they represent an anti-social inhumane mechanism in our society.

They should simply be outlawed.

Instead we need government controlled hospitals and good ones.  Now this is a true challenge, cause we know how corrupt the government is.  But ideally this is a good solution, IMO.

The salary plan should be the same across the US, adjusted by local living costs.  Doctor's skills should be evaluated in order to evenly distribute the doctors across the countrys hospitals, adjusted by number of patients.



puppylove
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
puppylove  
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

Right chuck! What people who are opposed to government run healthcare are missing is that at least with government run, people have the right to vote on issues since they will be paying the taxes for it. But right now, private enterprise is running everything, and they don't care what you need, they don't need your vote. And with the monopoly they have, they do not have any competition so we need their services or do without.

So whats worse,the government telling you what you can have or do, or a private monopoly telling you what you can have or do?

Private enterprise running our healthcare is a dictatorship. We have no say in their policies, who runs the company, etc.

At least we could vote out leaders not doing their job in regards to a government run healthcare(as we do in other issues)but with private industry, we take what they give or else have no other options.

Same goes for other public services. Privatizing everything would be a nightmare, a real dictatorship run by monopolies of big business. We think a dictatorship can't happen in this country? It can, only it won't be one person at the top, it will be a handful of companies doing whatever they please because we disabled our own government(by the people, for the people as we vote on)for the seductive(we'll do things better)lies of corporate America.

Our healthcare system is broken, yes, but isn't it obvious why? Right now, it is being run by private companies...logically, they are the ones failing to provide what we really need. And yet we blame the government. We are misdirecting the blame and this comes from propaganda big business puts out there year after year.

Private enterprise is out for one thing, make money, and they don't have to answer to voters.



jwags
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
jwags  
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

They already do have a monopoly!



mamabear
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 5/2007
mamabear  
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

Personally, I don't want any help from the "government" with my health. As soon as they can "Help" me they will be in control of me; much like a parent telling a kid not to eat too much candy or they will get sick only i am not kid and it is my right to get sick if i want to. The unfair part is people make themselves sick then they want the "government" (thats our tax dollars)to pay for their medicine. NO WAY. The real problem with medicine started when the MOB TACTICS of Insurance companies took over our healthcare. WE need tort reform and we need to admit that it is a conflict of interest for lawyers to be law makers.



AZDC
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2007
AZDC  
 
Posted On Aug 23, 2007

This is absolutely disgusting.  The all powerful drug/medical monster just cannot seem to keep its tenticles out of our lives.  I guess they feel we are all just walking bags of money to be manipulated and controlled.  

Upon reading this I became very angry and even had a visceral response to the point where I became ill to my stomach.  I have since been educating my patient base about this article and forwarding them to visit this website.


 
 
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

It's not much better in the UK.  While vaccination is not mandatory (yet) still over 85% voluntarily inject filthy poisons into their infants and don't seem able to make the connection with the resulting sickness and behavioural problems in later life.  The pressure is immense because doctors get a whopping bonus if they reach the target of 95% vaccinated and strike awkward, i.e. self educated, families from their list.  

Recently it was suggested that everyone over 60 yrs should be forced to take statins.  A program to create more sickness in the elderly and kill them off faster.  They're a drain on society and don't pay taxes any more you see.  Natural herbs and supplements are constantly being vilified in the mainstream media and any medic who dares to speak up for things like homeopathy and proper nutrition is instantly labelled a 'quack' or 'crank'.  

Unfortunately the vast majority of people still believe in our 'health' service and think they are being told the truth.  Michael Moore does an excellent job but he doesn't go nearly far enough.  He should be asking instead why there is such a huge increase in chronic disease and exposing the lies and deceit and the hounding of proponents of safe and natural cures.  Why does big pharma see natural medicine as such a threat?  There is an agenda; to make as much money as possible before killing as many as possible and this is the vital point not being made.


 
xemmie
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 8/2007
xemmie  
Replied

lshinskey
Novice User Novice User Joined On 7/2006
lshinskey  
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

So Sad that the masses automatically think/believe the Lovey Govey wouldn't hurt us, they are God after all and he loves us.Right?



bagarino
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2007
bagarino  
 
Posted On Aug 22, 2007

Ridiculous comment xemmie. Watch the film and you will see you are talking chalk and cheese (US / UK health systems).

Re the statins - the word "forced" was never used. That "they should be prescribed for all 60 y.o's" was said. That is not the same thing. In response there was a torrent of invective from a wide range of authoritative medical professionals.

You put "homeopathy" and "proper nutrition" in the same bracket? Why? What do you understand "homeopathy" to mean? Use of herbs? It isn't. Do you see the 'h' word advocated on mercola.com? No.

If you watch the film (did you?) you will see that Michael Moore carefully restricted his remit in the opening frames to make the issue a workable size. He doesn't address any of the issues that you say he should. Moore seems (to look at him) to have begun to address HIS OWN HEALTH ISSUES that stem from exactly the sort of behavioural and nutritional issues highlighted on this website but he certainly is not an advert for healthy eating / healthy living. He certainly looks at little slimmer than when he made FH911 and BFC.



Magnolia
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Magnolia  
 
Posted On Aug 25, 2007

This is for bagarino. Go on mercola.com and do a search with the keyword,"homeopathy." There are many articles, advocating the use of homeopathy. Do your research, dear before making comments criticising others. They will carry a lot more authority if you do. When you have something that is worthwhile to say, give it the best possible chance of being received by being as accurate as you can.


 
 
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

Socializing healthcare will only make it worse. All the same advertising & BS propaganda will still be out there regarding health issues. People will be all the more ready to go to their doctor and ask for the latest purple pill if the government is paying for it. Personally, I'd rather not subsidize mass hypochondria.

Socialized medicine economically doesn't work because it doesn't force people to acknowledge (i.e. paying) the value that they're getting from a limited and valuable resourse, known as the doctor's time.


 
stoicathos
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 8/2007
stoicathos  
Replied

Sandralee
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
Sandralee  
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

That's not true. My son has been living in Germany for almost eight years now. He is married to a German girl and they have two children. He says that health care in Germany is way better than here in the United States, Germany has socialized medicine. That is one of the primary reasons he has chose to stay in Germany with his family.



stoicathos
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
stoicathos  
 
Posted On Aug 22, 2007

Sandralee, you haven't actually refuted anything. All that can be concluded from what you wrote is that Germany has socialized medicine and your son likes it.


 
 
 
Posted On Aug 06, 2007
Lion's Gate was also the distributor that championed the outing of the ongoing criminal cover up, and enabling, of well over 13,000 individual victims in the USA (per NCCB's own JJ Report) in the rape, physical maiming, physical and mental torture, oral copulation, sexual assault, kidnapping, and sodomy  of children, and the yet to be personally accountable and guilty persons like Roger M. Mahony, of the LA Archdiocese, in DELIVER US FROM EVIL, the 2006 US Academy Award Best Documentary nominated film.

The above documentary is now FREE at: www.youtube.com for anyone who wishes to watch it.

Will SICKO find a similar online audience? 

I do not know, but I think it safe to suggest, that buying up film distributor stocks alone, will not suppress the already widely recognized FACT that the American Medical System (reactive in model), as well as the rape insurance liability premium factors, are indeed BROKEN.

Where does a true overall HEALTH solution begin for America? 

At:   www.mercola.com/vitalvotes in a low cost and preventative model.

 
Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
Replied

annapavlova42
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 2/2007
annapavlova42  
 
Posted On Aug 06, 2007
Our health care solution will begin, as soon as Ron Paul has been elected into the oval office, other wise nothing will be properly fixed.


hhjoet
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
hhjoet  
 
Posted On Aug 09, 2007
Start by making "First do no harm." contraventions scheduled as actual or grievous bodily harm crimes to be dealt with under the criminal code.
Doctors seem to have some expectation that they will be protected by their own tribunals etc.
As I see it a doctor  knows or ought to know the consequences of his actions particularly prescribing drugs in the climate that exists today.
Any doctor who accepts BIG PHARMA'S  drug specifications on face value is negligent and needs pressure their professional associations to carry out a fully transparent assessment of drugs independently of the FDA.

 
 
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

Anyone speaking up about what they're doing in New England - universal health care aka "everybody has to has insurance or they'll be punished."  ??  I don't know about anyone else, but I do not want to be force-fed a health insurance policy, the next phase is being force-fed the drugs to get the numbers (cholesterol, etc.) where they want them,


 
dempoolguy
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 3/2007
dempoolguy  
Replied

westee
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
westee  
 
Posted On Aug 21, 2007

Hi, dempoolguy I'm a 50something uninsured contract worker in MA. I am paying $413/month for the cheapest health insurance that offers SOMETHING if I get in a car wreck or come down with cancer...but I wonder what hospital is going to accept the insurance, which I got through an association of self-employed people. $5000 deductible.

I feel like I'm pretty much on my own with  my health care...floss, brush, exercise, decent diet and wearing a seatbelt are about all I can do, because the closest medical practices (within 10 miles of my suburb of Boston) do NOT accept my insurance...go figure. I guess it would be cheaper to just pay the fine, but I guess if I get really sick a city hospital may take my el cheapo insurance.

Glad I'm not diabetic, epileptic, HBP...I'm not looking forward to getting old in this state, I can tell you. The good thing about raw eggs and fish oil - I don't get sick too often :-)


 
 
 
 
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