The Bleeding Edge (2018)

A look at the unforeseen consequences of advanced technological devices used in the medical field.

Director:

Kirby Dick

Writers:

Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering (additional writing)

Stars:

Robert Bridges, Angie Firmalino, Rita Redberg

Cast

Credited cast:
Robert Bridges	...	Himself - Diagnostic Radiologist
Angie Firmalino	...	Herself - Essure contraceptive victim
Rita Redberg	...	Herself
Stephen Tower	...	Himself - Orthopedic Surgeon

Storyline

A look at the unforeseen consequences of advanced technological devices used in the medical field.

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Taglines:

A Groundbreaking Investigation Into the Crimes of Big Medical

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 July 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Geschäft mit der Gesundheit

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chain Camera Pictures, Shark Island Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Implanting billions of dollars

I found this a first class documentary about the countries medical implant industry. How bizarre that these implants don't have to be tested, unlike new drugs, on humans but can be sold if they are similar to those already on the market. The program devotes a lot of time to Bayer's birth control implant Essure. In Europe the EU raised various questions that Bayer didn't want to answer and the product wasn't sold in there, now with thousands of court cases in this country Bayer have decided (for business reasons) to take the product off the market by the end of 2018.

Essure is just one of the implants revealed in the film to cause medical problems another was metal hip replacements that can slowly fail over time and cause cobalt poisoning. Medical mesh merges with internal organs and tissue making it extremely hard to correct in later operations when there are problems. The Da Vinci robot surgical operating machine is too complex for surgeons to use unless they have had extensive training, the film revealed that many had not even though the company told the FDA that there would be a serious training program for surgeons, having got their product approved the training option evaporated.

One thing that impressed me about this documentary is the absence of those dozens of little clips you get in documentaries these days to fill up time between one main point and another and they usually have annoying background music. In 'The bleeding edge' it's almost all people talking to the camera in a straightforward conversational way that gives the whole thing great credibility. There is background music but it isn't excessive.

As a documentary this is an impressive change from the usual over-the-top-production that is the norm these days.