Ray Moynihan

Ray Moynihan is an Australian journalist, author, and academic researcher known for his investigative work on the medicalization of human conditions and the influence of pharmaceutical companies on healthcare. He has written extensively about disease-mongering and the expansion of medical definitions that can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. As a former reporter at the Australian Financial Review and ABC Radio National, Moynihan's work has appeared in leading publications including the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and The BMJ. His books include "Selling Sickness" and "Sex, Lies & Pharmaceuticals," which examine how medical conditions are marketed and promoted. Moynihan holds a PhD in medicine from the University of Sydney and has served as a Senior Research Fellow at Bond University in Australia. His research focuses on addressing the challenge of too much medicine, investigating ways to prevent overdiagnosis, and studying the relationships between health professionals and industry. He has helped establish the international scientific conference Preventing Overdiagnosis and continues to contribute to academic and public discourse on healthcare reform and medical ethics. Through his work with the World Health Organization and other international bodies, Moynihan has influenced policy discussions about pharmaceutical marketing and medical practice.

Readers praise Moynihan's investigative depth and clear presentation of complex medical-industry relationships. Multiple reviewers on Amazon and Goodreads highlight his ability to expose pharmaceutical marketing tactics while keeping the material accessible to non-medical readers. What readers liked: - Clear documentation of pharmaceutical industry practices - Balance between academic research and readable journalism - Specific examples that demonstrate industry influence - Practical advice for patients and healthcare providers What readers disliked: - Some found the tone occasionally repetitive - Limited discussion of potential solutions - Technical sections challenging for general readers - Focus primarily on Western healthcare systems Ratings across platforms: Amazon: "Selling Sickness" - 4.5/5 (82 reviews) Goodreads: "Selling Sickness" - 4.2/5 (427 reviews) "Sex, Lies & Pharmaceuticals" - 4.0/5 (156 reviews) One reader noted: "Moynihan backs every claim with solid evidence while maintaining narrative flow." Another commented: "Eye-opening research that changed how I view medical marketing."

Selling Sickness: How the World's Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All Into Patients (2005) An investigation into how pharmaceutical companies market diseases to boost drug sales by transforming ordinary ailments into medical conditions.

Sex, Lies & Pharmaceuticals: How Drug Companies Plan to Profit from Female Sexual Dysfunction (2010) Documents the pharmaceutical industry's efforts to create and promote female sexual dysfunction as a medical condition requiring drug treatment.

Too Much Medicine? (2015) Examines the problem of overdiagnosis in modern healthcare and its impact on patients and healthcare systems.

Ten Questions You Must Ask Your Doctor (2007) Provides specific questions patients can ask healthcare providers to make informed decisions about their medical care and treatments.

Ben Goldacre - Medical doctor and epidemiologist who writes about bad science, pharmaceutical industry practices, and evidence-based medicine. His books "Bad Science" and "Bad Pharma" expose flaws in medical research and industry influence on healthcare.

Marcia Angell - Former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine who focuses on pharmaceutical industry influence and medical ethics. Her work "The Truth About the Drug Companies" examines pharmaceutical marketing and its impact on medical practice.

Jerome Kassirer - Former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine who writes about conflicts of interest in medicine and healthcare commercialization. His book "On the Take" investigates financial relationships between physicians and pharmaceutical companies.

Carl Elliott - Bioethicist and professor who writes about pharmaceutical ethics and human research subjects. His book "White Coat, Black Hat" examines the commercialization of medicine and ethical issues in clinical trials.

John Abramson - Harvard Medical School faculty member who investigates pharmaceutical industry influence on medical research and practice. His book "Overdosed America" analyzes how commercial interests affect healthcare decisions and medical evidence.