American Medical Association prescribes ban on direct-to-consumer drug advertising

[darkewaffle]

AMA announcement

Summary at Ars

I never knew such advertising was explicitly disallowed in so many countries, evidently only the US and New Zealand permit it.

Personally I think it would be beneficial. It would likely shift a little bit of the power away from the big brands back to the generics. I would also hope it would result in "that drugs solves a problem. i might have that problem... i should try it!" being less prevalent. The fewer people taking drugs they don't actually need, the better imo.

Note: They aren't/can't actually enforce or enact this. They're simply recommending it.

 

[Artdeco]

The industry is terrible with those ads, for instance the shingles vaccine is only 51% effective for 60 year olds, 18% effective for 80 year olds... $200 per shot.

 

[waggy]

The industry is terrible with those ads, for instance the shingles vaccine is only 51% effective for 60 year olds, 18% effective for 80 year olds... $200 per shot.

fuck its worth it. I had shingles. it sucks big time. Im willing to take the risk and loose the money.

 

[IronWing]

Very timely, the ad for an anti-prostate cancer drug showing at the top of this page warns that pregnant women should not take it.

 

[Ferzerp]

fuck its worth it. I had shingles. it sucks big time. Im willing to take the risk and loose the money.

I'll trade. I'm one of the weird individuals that managed to not become immune to the chicken pox after having it as a child and got it again in my early 30s! That wasn't fun.

 

[CPA]

The industry is terrible with those ads, for instance the shingles vaccine is only 51% effective for 60 year olds, 18% effective for 80 year olds... $200 per shot.

Wait, so you want to limit drugs based on their effectiveness rate? So, you want more people driving to Mexico to get drugs?

 

[Anubis]

good this has been needed for forever

 

[ElFenix]

if we got rid of cialis/viagra ads, car insurance ads, and fan duel/draft kings ads, the world would be a far better place.

 

[Anubis]

those fan duel ones may vanish faster then the rest. because its gambling and the crackdown in imminent

 

[PowerEngineer]

I never knew such advertising was explicitly disallowed in so many countries, evidently only the US and New Zealand permit it.

I could be mistaken, but I believe that advertising prescription drugs directly to the public was prohibited in the US until just a few years ago. I'd be happy to have the ban back; I never need to see another Viagra commercial for the rest of my life! D:

That said, the way that drug companies market their products to doctors is also disturbing (and perhaps worse).

http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/researc...-and-its-influence-on-physicians-and-patients

 

[Alienwho]

Please ban drug ad's. I can't watch the nightly news for 5 seconds without getting bitch slapped in the face for every ED drug or blood pressure pill in the universe. GD Baby Boomers.

 

[BoomerD]

Please ban drug ad's. I can't watch the nightly news for 5 seconds without getting bitch slapped in the face for every ED drug or blood pressure pill in the universe. GD Baby Boomers.

Let's also go back to the time when liars LAWYERS were prohibited from advertising their services too.

 

[edro]

What does this really mean?
Who decides? The FCC?
This is just a recommendation, right?

What would make the FCC make the change?

 

[DrPizza]

I recently had a conversation with a relative about some of these medications - what are all those pills for?

"This one is to help maintain kidney function, because this one is pretty harsh on your kidneys."
"Why do you take that one?"
"Well, I need that one to help relieve the edema and swelling in my lower legs."
"Oh, I didn't know you had a problem with that."
"Well, that's caused by my high blood pressure medicine."
"Why don't you simply switch to a different high blood pressure medicine? Not all of them cause edema in your legs."
" But this high blood pressure is the newest on the market, so it's better or they wouldn't have made it."

 

[BurnItDwn]

There is a serious major huge problem. Drug companies spend more money on Marketing than they spend on R&D. R&D Costs are the only justification they have to exist at all, and yet they basically get away with murder.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Yes, but how else will I hear that my cream for back acne may or may not result in 2nd degree burns, skin sores, cancer, nausea, fever, rash, loss of eye sight, anal leakage and / or brain hemorrhaging - while two perfectly looking healthy people are strolling in the park holding hands and enjoying the pleasant weather??

 

[Strk]

those fan duel ones may vanish faster then the rest. because its gambling and the crackdown in imminent

Yeah, I was about to post that one. John Oliver just did a segment on them.

 

[Sonikku]

Why should doctors be the ones telling Americans what drugs they need? That seems like the role of a for profit corporation.

 

[dullard]

Why should doctors be the ones telling Americans what drugs they need? That seems like the role of a for profit corporation.

:thumbsup:

 

[nakedfrog]

Wait, so you want to limit drugs based on their effectiveness rate? So, you want more people driving to Mexico to get drugs?

Where do you get that out of what he said?
I know I've personally seen those shingles commercials a lot of times. I think his point was that it's heavily advertised, and costs $200 a pop, but has a low effectiveness rate. I don't see anywhere in the post that says "It has a low effectiveness rate so no one should get it", or even implies it.

 

[nakedfrog]

I could be mistaken, but I believe that advertising prescription drugs directly to the public was prohibited in the US until just a few years ago. I'd be happy to have the ban back; I never need to see another Viagra commercial for the rest of my life! D:

That said, the way that drug companies market their products to doctors is also disturbing (and perhaps worse).

http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/researc...-and-its-influence-on-physicians-and-patients

Some time around 2000, IIRC.

 

[smackababy]

Some time around 2000, IIRC.

It had to be before that. Chris Rock did some jokes about it years back.


Edit: guess I was wrong. I thought it was in "Bigger and Blacker" but it looks like it was from "Never Scared" in 2004.

 

[Ruptga]

That's good, but I really doubt their recommendation will be followed. I'm not likely to notice much of a difference either way though since I don't have cable and I do have adblock. #CordCutterMasterRace

 

[feralkid]

"If death lasts more than four hours, call your mortician".

 

[poofyhairguy]

I honestly don't mind the ads. Most are for harmless drugs like penis pills, and the rest get people to at least talk to their doctor about their health.

It is funny how much we trust doctors, when often what drug they prescribe is determined by which pharmaceutical rep gives them free food or free pussy.