Talk:Elizabeth Sackler

Latest comment: 3 years ago by GreenC in topic Whitewashing


Whitewashing

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Regarding this attempt at whitewashing: Elizabeth_Sackler#Family

Look, I just read Empire of Pain. There is no need to go out of the way and try to distance Elizabeth from this history. Because if you want to say "Elizabeth's branch has nothing to do with Purdue Pharma", ok, then we would need to say something about her father's Valium history and co-opting of the FDA. Also, it's not like the Sackler "branch" in question is immune from the Purdue Pharma created opiod epidemic."the Metropolitan Museum of Art Pledges to Reject Funding From the Sackler Family". If other institutions are sanctioning the (entire) Sackler family I don't see why Wikipedia should go out of its way to distance one of the Sackler members from the Purdue Pharma opiod epidemic.

Empire of Pain actually addresses this point directly, discussing how Arthur's branch was trying to distance itself from Purdue. The author says Arthur "created the world that allowed OxyContin to do what it did. He pioneered medical advertising and marketing of the type used by Purdue; the co-opting of the FDA; the mingling of medicine and commerce; so many of the antecedents of Purdue Pharma could be found in the life of Arthur Sackler." A pamphlet released by the heirs of Arthur said he "founded a dynasty" and "was personally responsible for much of his brothers success". The website sackler.org (family run) says Arthur "purchased the pharmaceutical company Purdue Frederick, and started all the other family businesses." -- GreenC 16:28, 9 May 2021 (UTC)Reply