I am the author of “Our Daily Meds,” reviewed by Robert Goldberg in “Hard Pill to Swallow” (PostScript, March 30).

Goldberg misleads your readers by stating that I never acknowledged the benefits of medicines, which I do, repeatedly, beginning in the book’s introduction. He also says that I left out key points, which are there for everyone to see in black and white in the pages of my book.

Perhaps Goldberg’s criticisms can be explained by the fact that he is not the disinterested commentator he appeared to be. He is vice president of a group that receives funding from the drug industry.

Goldberg co-founded the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest with Peter Pitts, an executive at Manning Selvage & Lee, a public relations firm with pharmaceutical clients. Goldberg’s review is an example of the pharmaceutical industry’s promotional practices that led me to write “Our Daily Meds” in the first place.

The drug companies learned from the tobacco industry that the public would believe their message if it came from someone who appeared independent. People need honest information about medicines, not propaganda.

Melody Petersen, Los Angeles