Articles by:

Charlea T. Massion, MD and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD

Browse articles by Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD

Friends Don’t Let Friends Take Avandia

By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD , , , ,

In mid-July, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee voted to keep the diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) on the market, while simultaneously acknowledging not only that the drug increases the risk of heart attacks, but also that there are many other, safer medications available — including Actos (pioglitazone), a close sibling of Avandia made by a competing manufacturer.

Be Your Own Death Panel

By: Charlea T. Massion and Adriane Fugh-Berman , , ,

During last summer’s town hall meetings on health care reform, the specter of “death panels” was repeatedly raised in acrimonious misrepresentations of the reform bill.

The Mammogram Industry: Wolves in Pink Wool

By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD , , , ,

Mammography is a useful but problematic diagnostic tool that exposes breast tissue to radiation that can increase the risk of breast cancer. Screening mammography saves lives in menopausal women over 50, but not for women under 50.

Ghostwritten Articles Helped Sell Hormones

By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD , , , , ,

If you or your mother became menopausal between the 1960s and 90s, you know that most women were pressured to take hormones from their first hot flash until their death. A friend joked that all women would be clutching a vial of Premarin on their death-beds. Joking aside, all Network members should be proud to be part of the only national membership organization that consistently opposed estrogen for disease prevention.

Rx for Change: Why Suzanne Somers is Wrong About Hormones

By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD , , ,

Suzanne Somers looks great. In interviews and a series of books, the actress attributes her seeming agelessness — not to mention increased energy, libido, and a host of other benefits — to her use of “bioidentical” hormones.

About the Authors

Charlea T. Massion, MD

Charlea T. Massion, MD, is a practicing physician in Santa Cruz County specializing in hospice and palliative care. Charlea brought her passion for improving women’s health along with 40+ years of health care experience to the NWHN as a member of the board for 8 years. She also co-founded the American College of Women’s Health Physicians.

Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD

Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD, is a former NWHN Board Chair whose research presents a critical analysis of the marketing of prescription drugs. Adriane educates prescribers on pharmaceutical marketing practices as Director of the PharmedOUT program, and created the Health in the Public Interest program at Georgetown University School of Medicine where she trains a new generation of consumer advocates. Additional articles by Adriane can be found here.