ne of the most haunting cases was thalidomide, a drug developed in the late 1950s and given to pregnant women to ease nausea. It was considered a modern wonder—until thousands of babies were born with severe deformities due to its untested effects on fetal development. Watching survivors speak, now adults, about how they were affected, was both heartbreaking and eye-opening.

Another documentary detailed the opioid crisis in the United States, focusing on how aggressively addictive painkillers like OxyContin were marketed. Pharmaceutical companies hid data, minimized risks, and targeted doctors with bonuses to prescribe more. Millions became addicted, families were destroyed, and the full cost is still unfolding.

These stories revealed a dark truth: profit often trumps safety in the pharmaceutical world. Drugs are rushed to market, side effects are hidden, and long-term testing is often skipped. What’s sold as a “safe cure” can, in fact, be a silent killer.

What struck me most was how easily trust can be abused. We trust medicine because it’s backed by science. But science can be manipulated. Watching these documentaries reminded me that critical thinking and transparency are more important than ever in healthcare.

So next time you’re handed a new pill, or see an ad for a revolutionary treatment—pause. Ask questions. Because as history shows, what’s meant to heal can sometimes destroy.