Consumer health advocate Sid Wolfe was a thorn in the side. We’re all the better as a result

The first phone call came some time in late 1996.

“Ed, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Sid Wolfe of Public Citizen,” he said. “And I’ve got something for you.”

He started out matter of fact, but spoke very quickly. To be honest, I can’t recall the subject anymore, but I do remember he peppered every sentence with lots of medical terminology. After more than a few minutes, he was still talking — I hadn’t gotten a chance to say much of anything. But a sense of outrage and frustration had crept into his voice before I could ask him to unpack his monologue.

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