Prescription drug advertisements

[John Dibble]

So, the question for this poll is whether or not prescription drug advertisements should be banned.

Since healthcare reform has been heavily discussed as of late and getting costs down to more reasonable levels is a big part of that, so I ended up thinking about this particular issue. The drug companies spend billions each year advertising directly to consumers, and many claim that for a few reasons this has been a major contributor to the rising prices of prescription medicine. That alone isn't enough for me to support a ban on prescription drug advertisement to consumers, but in conjunction with other factors I think I may actually support such a ban.

As a libertarian, I don't really like to ban things unless there's a damn good reason for it. In the case of behavior by private companies, I generally ask myself whether or not what the company is doing is honest to the consumer. If the company is giving the correct information to the consumer so that he or she has accurate information about what they are buying into and what risks they may be taking, then I'm for allowing barring some other significant ethical problem.

When it comes to prescription drugs, I don't think the advertisements we see everyday on television give very much information. Quite often they are so vague that you don't even know what the drug is supposed to do, and even though the possible side effects are presented they try to gloss over them and they don't really give you any clue what the chances of the side effects are. The only one who will likely be able to give you any degree of accurate information is your doctor, and frankly he or she should be the one making the decision as to what medicine you are being prescribed since he or she is the one educated in medicine, not the television. (if you want to argue for self-medication that's fine, but our current system is not based on that and this argument is based on working with that system rather than outright changing the system, which is very unlikely to occur) Since our system is based on the doctor being the one informed enough to make a decision, I don't see how advertising to the consumer directly really helps. If anything it might mislead the consumer into thinking they have a condition they don't or that the advertised medicine is their only real option.

I could also get into the ethical issues about how these companies make it look like your life will be all honky dory if you just start taking their magic pill, but that's how advertising in general works.

So, I mildly support banning these kinds of ads, but I'm not dead set on it.

Thoughts?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Hell no



Viva Viagra!!!

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Honestly, I think one of the best solutions would be to just take a lot of those prescription drugs and make them OTC. With full transparency and warning labels.

Otherwise, much as I hate to say it, prescription drug ads provide a service and drive people with treatable problems to the doctor's office. It's awkward having people going into a doctor's office to demand a prescription by brand name, but any decent doctor should be able to screen patients and decide if "insertdrugnamehere is right for you."

[Platypus]

From an outsider's perspective, they're beyond ridiculous.

[Torie]

They are loathsome, but no. I am not comfortable limiting speech of any kind absent compelling circumstances.

[opebo]

Prescriptions should not be required to authorize the purchase of any drug.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Prescriptions should not be required to authorize the purchase of any drug.

How will dumbs know what to purchase?

[John Dibble]

On the risk factors being not gone into enough, apparently there have been studies regarding that:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-01-29-prescription-drug-ad_x.htm

Also, here's some opinions from doctors:

http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/prescription-drug-advertising.html

Like I said, I'm not totally convinced we should ban them - there are good arguments on both sides for this, so I'm possibly going to change my mind.

Otherwise, much as I hate to say it, prescription drug ads provide a service and drive people with treatable problems to the doctor's office.

I thought about that too, but from what I understand it actually is more prone to make a bunch of people think they have a problem they don't actually have and go to their doctor about it. Extra doctor visits means extra insurance payouts, which means higher premiums.

Prescriptions should not be required to authorize the purchase of any drug.

I covered the notion of self-medication, noting that the question pertains to the current system which does require a prescription. Seeing as the system is not likely to change, what are your thoughts on the issue?

[Ban my account ffs!]

I think they should be banned from TV, but not necessarily from print advertising.

[JSojourner]

Prescriptions should not be required to authorize the purchase of any drug.

How will dumbs know what to purchase?

They are dumbs.  They won't know.  But this will help to thin the herd significantly.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

From an outsider's perspective, they're beyond ridiculous.

^^^^^^^^(x100).

You Americans have no idea how ridiculous these ads look to foreigners.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

No (R) - and we've had this poll before - which makes me feel kinda old.

[John Dibble]

From an outsider's perspective, they're beyond ridiculous.

^^^^^^^^(x100).

You Americans have no idea how ridiculous these ads look to foreigners.

Well, the smart ones do - frankly I have the urge to bang my head against the wall every time I hear about a pill that'll fix your inability to control your bladder.

[Padfoot]

Yes, they should be banned.  They are silly and wasteful.  If I have an ailment requiring a prescription then I should have already discussed it with my doctor and he will know whether or not "magic pill X" is an appropriate medication for me or not.  If I was a doctor and one of my patients came in and asked me" is magic pill X right for me?" I would slap them in the face and tell them buy a Tivo to prevent them from seeing any more of those stupid ads.

[Richard]

Nevermind the ads, require full disclosure from doctors on:

- all materials (reading, education, etc.) supplied by pharmaceutical companies,
- all gifts supplied by pharmaceutical companies (that includes the "confederence" in the Bahamas)
- all kickbacks received for prescribing a given drug over another drug

And point blank ban pharmaceutical companies from sponsoring any kind of politician or doctor or university.  Or anything for that matter.

[dead0man]

They are loathsome, but no. I am not comfortable limiting speech of any kind absent compelling circumstances.

[Sam Spade]

As a practical matter, unless the prescription drug ads are untruthful, any attempt to ban such advertising would probably be unconstitutional.

I don't really care for them.

[opebo]

Prescriptions should not be required to authorize the purchase of any drug.

How will dumbs know what to purchase?

They can ask the doctor, or the pharmacist.  Not requiring the advice of a doctor doesn't ban the advice.