Rethinking Medications

Truth, Power, and the Drugs You Take

De: Jerry Avorn

Narrado por: Jerry Avorn MD

A leading medical expert explains why too many of the medications Americans take are poorly evaluated, overpriced, or pose unwarranted risks—and what we can do to fix that.

Groundbreaking research has given us many remarkable new medicines, but America’s drug evaluation process, once the envy of the world, is being seriously compromised. Under pressure from drugmakers, the FDA has been lowering its approval standards and has let poorly effective or risky products enter the market—while our prescription prices, the highest in the world, put crucial treatments beyond the reach of many. In Rethinking Medications, Dr. Jerry Avorn explains how we got here and what we can do to ensure that our medicines are dependably effective, safe, and affordable.

Part of the problem is the power of pharma’s biggest-in-Washington lobbying clout, which influences members of Congress from both parties. That leverage is extended by the FDA’s growing dependence on fees the industry pays to get its drugs approved. The increasingly revenue-driven US healthcare system shapes the way doctors prescribe medications—sometimes to the detriment of their clinical decisions.

Based on his decades of practice and research at Harvard Medical School and his role at the very center of many of these controversies, Dr. Avorn presents compelling clinical illustrations of these issues across the medical spectrum: from cancer drugs to opioids, from treatments for rare diseases to psychedelics. Throughout, he offers practical steps that consumers, policymakers, and practitioners can take to address these problems—at a moment when our assumptions about scientific evidence, regulation, pricing, and the role of government are being contested as never before.

©2025 Jerry Avorn (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Great material, inconsistent vocal performance by author

The material is very interesting and provides great insight from a dedicated doctor entrenched in patient care advocacy. I’m very thankful that he shared his experiences and thoughts on the issues surrounding US healthcare challenges, especially with the FDA, the pharmaceutical industry, and the medical educational community. He has a friendly personality and makes honest attempts to mix mild humor throughout the reading. His voice is gravelly and may be difficult for some listeners. There are several obvious edits where the quality of his voice changes, seemingly to a passage of time for a re-record. But you shouldn’t be listening to this for a smooth listen, the content is compelling just the same.

Entertaining, beautifully researched, and important

Dr. Avorn achieves the impossible: he puts the “care” back in healthcare. Some topics touch each of us individually; others are just plain fascinating; still others, he brings acumen (both clinical and societal) and a terrific sense of humor to enlighten and dissect.

Amazing perspective

Great perspective on the background of so much like the policies, the FDA, laws and more on medications. Especially even better to hear it from Jerry himself.

Read and discuss

Accessible read for the medical community and anyone who takes any kind of medication which means everyone. Was pleasantly surprised by the transparency and truth telling which was so inspiring. An added bonus is the call to action with practical steps provided at the end for decision making and advocacy.