- Vejon MED
- Posts
- Science Under Siege
Science Under Siege
Censorship, Profit, and the Crisis of Credibility Post-COVID
In partnership with
A Message from Dr. McMillan
Trust in science is facing an undeniable crisis. Public confidence in journals and peer-reviewed research is eroding, and the pandemic has exposed deep flaws in transparency, integrity, and the influence of funding on scientific outcomes.
Too often, research has been shaped to promote specific drug therapies rather than to seek the unbiased truth. The extent of this issue cannot be underestimated. Without meaningful reform, science risks losing the very trust it relies on.
Perhaps the only way forward is to dismantle the current structures and rebuild with true transparency, accountability, and integrity. The future of science must be about discovery, not agendas.
Dr. Philip McMillan
In this week's February 8, 2025 update:
Ethics: Science under siege
Vejon: This week’s featured Vejon video
Courses: ROOT program and McMillan monitor
Read time: 3 minutes
FEATURE ARTICLE
ETHICS
Science Under Siege: Censorship, Profit, and the Crisis of Credibility Post-COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic upended global health, and in so doing exposed deep fissures in the foundations of scientific research. A recent Vejon Health episode hosted by Dr. Philip McMillan featured epidemiologist Professor Amitav Banerjee and censored public health researcher Sam Brokken who laid bare a system creaking under the weight of profit motives, censorship, and institutional pressures. The nexus of their discussion was that science, once a beacon of impartial truth, risks crumbling under commercial pressures and political agendas. “The system keeps recreating the same narrative,” warns Brokken, a Belgian public health researcher censored during COVID-19. With trust eroding globally, how do we rebuild integrity in a field battered by politics and commercial interests?
Pressure to Publish or Perish
Scientific publishing, long considered the gold standard of knowledge dissemination, has become a minefield. Researchers face relentless pressure to “publish or perish” to secure funding or tenure, leading to shortcuts and a flood of low-quality studies. Professor Banerjee, editor-in-chief of an indexed medical journal, describes how the rise of pay-to-publish “open access” models has blurred ethical lines. While nonprofit Platinum Open Access journals (funded by institutions rather than authors) offer a glimmer of integrity, predatory publishers dominate the landscape. “When money sways what gets published,” Banerjee warns, “truth becomes negotiable.” Sam Brokken, dismissed from Belgian academia after questioning vaccine mandates, recounts how independent studies on COVID-19 risks were routinely buried. One Indian study linking vaccines to higher mortality among frontline workers mysteriously vanished after legal threats from pharmaceutical interests. “Question the narrative, and your career dies,” Brokken dryly observed.
EDUCATION
You don’t have to settle for feeling less than your best. This program is built to guide you to lasting results with a roadmap to better health. Complete our survey, get the link to the McMillan Health Monitor and receive your invitation to the next ROOT to Wellness Webinar.
BOOK NOOK
"Disease X: Are You Prepared?" is your comprehensive guide to navigating the uncertain future of global health. Drawing from experience and the latest scientific insights, this book offers:
|
ADVERTISEMENT
If you're frustrated by one-sided reporting, our 5-minute newsletter is the missing piece. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you comprehensive, unbiased news—free from political agendas. Stay informed with factual coverage on the topics that matter.
Hey runners: Do you qualify for RunDot’s new research opportunity?
The RunDot Project is an annual research initiative. It helps runners reach their true performance potential through optimized run training.
RunDot athletes improve running performance 3.2x more than non-users and see positive changes in 30% less training time.
Qualified participants will also receive 2 free months of run training.
Who qualifies?
Those who meet the following criteria:
Train with a device with GPS capabilities
Have not used RunDot or TriDot in the last 12 months
Not a professional runner
Enthusiastic and motivated to reach their running goals
Does this sound like you?