Should Direct to Customer Pharmaceutical Advertising Be Legal?
Have you seen advertisements on TV where they tell you to ask your doctor about taking a certain drug? Those are public advertisements for prescription drugs, which some people think are informative and good, while others find that they are misleading and harmful. These advertisements have a multitude of benefits and drawbacks for the consumer.
The Benefits
There are many benefits to advertising prescription drugs to the public. One major benefit to DTC, or direct to customer, advertising is that it increases the amount of communication between a patient and their doctor. In a Prevention magazine survey, it was found that 24.8 million Americans spoke about a medical condition for the first time with their doctor because they saw a DTC advertisement. Tina Stow of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said that DTC ads lead to, "important doctor-patient conversations about health that might otherwise not take place". Another benefit of DTC advertising is that some previously undiagnosed, or under treated, conditions are taken care of. This mostly happens because of the conversations and increased communication of patients and their doctors. A study of 9090 people aged 18 and up conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 43 percent of participants with recent major depression are getting inadequate therapy. Also in a Health Affairs article found that anti-depression medications also known as "selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), that have been DTC advertised, have led to significant treatment expansion". There are for sure some good benefits to DTC advertising, however there are also many negatives too.
The Drawbacks
There are also many drawbacks to DTC advertising. One negative aspect the DTC advertising is that sometimes the advertisements can be inaccurate, or they try to oversell themselves. Some advertisements play down their health risks and side effects, or claim the medication cures other minor conditions too. Yaz, a birth control pill, was also promoting that it could clear acne, and improve the takers mood. The Food and Drug Association forced Yaz to air new commercials specifically saying that Yaz should not be taken to cure acne. DTC advertisement regulators felt that the advertisements understated the side effects and overstated the side benefits, and thus the FDA took action against Yaz's commercials. The inaccurate marketing and overexaggerating could wrongly influence people into requesting unnecessary prescription drugs from their doctors. Another drawback of DTC advertising is that DTC advertising can increase the prices of the drug being sold, which can be harmful to the people who actually depend on the drug. Patrice A. Harris, board chair-elect of the American Medical Association, said that, "Direct-to-consumer advertising also inflates demand for new and more expensive drugs, even when these drugs may not be appropriate." If the price of the drug increases, it may become too expensive to some of the users who need the drug. Because of these two reasons a ban on DTC advertisements has been proposed. Many organizations have voiced their opinion that DTC advertisements should be illegal, however only the FDA has the power to ban DTC pharmaceutical advertising which they have not yet done. There are definitely many drawbacks to DTC advertising.
Overall, there are many positives and negatives to direct to customer advertising. Some people believe the advertisements are beneficial, while others say they are harmful. Just next time you hear an ad that tells you to ask a doctor really think if the drug is legitimately useful to you, or if it is trying to trick you into buying it.
The Benefits
There are many benefits to advertising prescription drugs to the public. One major benefit to DTC, or direct to customer, advertising is that it increases the amount of communication between a patient and their doctor. In a Prevention magazine survey, it was found that 24.8 million Americans spoke about a medical condition for the first time with their doctor because they saw a DTC advertisement. Tina Stow of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said that DTC ads lead to, "important doctor-patient conversations about health that might otherwise not take place". Another benefit of DTC advertising is that some previously undiagnosed, or under treated, conditions are taken care of. This mostly happens because of the conversations and increased communication of patients and their doctors. A study of 9090 people aged 18 and up conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 43 percent of participants with recent major depression are getting inadequate therapy. Also in a Health Affairs article found that anti-depression medications also known as "selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), that have been DTC advertised, have led to significant treatment expansion". There are for sure some good benefits to DTC advertising, however there are also many negatives too.
The Drawbacks
There are also many drawbacks to DTC advertising. One negative aspect the DTC advertising is that sometimes the advertisements can be inaccurate, or they try to oversell themselves. Some advertisements play down their health risks and side effects, or claim the medication cures other minor conditions too. Yaz, a birth control pill, was also promoting that it could clear acne, and improve the takers mood. The Food and Drug Association forced Yaz to air new commercials specifically saying that Yaz should not be taken to cure acne. DTC advertisement regulators felt that the advertisements understated the side effects and overstated the side benefits, and thus the FDA took action against Yaz's commercials. The inaccurate marketing and overexaggerating could wrongly influence people into requesting unnecessary prescription drugs from their doctors. Another drawback of DTC advertising is that DTC advertising can increase the prices of the drug being sold, which can be harmful to the people who actually depend on the drug. Patrice A. Harris, board chair-elect of the American Medical Association, said that, "Direct-to-consumer advertising also inflates demand for new and more expensive drugs, even when these drugs may not be appropriate." If the price of the drug increases, it may become too expensive to some of the users who need the drug. Because of these two reasons a ban on DTC advertisements has been proposed. Many organizations have voiced their opinion that DTC advertisements should be illegal, however only the FDA has the power to ban DTC pharmaceutical advertising which they have not yet done. There are definitely many drawbacks to DTC advertising.
Overall, there are many positives and negatives to direct to customer advertising. Some people believe the advertisements are beneficial, while others say they are harmful. Just next time you hear an ad that tells you to ask a doctor really think if the drug is legitimately useful to you, or if it is trying to trick you into buying it.
Nick Burch 2017