Comments on: Patients Participating in the Diagnosis Process

By: Sheila Aidukas

Sheila Aidukas — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:16:51 +0000

I think that the upside to DTC advertisement is that people can learn about what is out there such as a treatment for restless leg syndrome or a birth control pill that lets you get your period only 4 times a year.

I think it would be better if the commercial just stated what the drug is for and the side effects and all, but not the name. Then the patient should be able to consult the doctor about possibilities. the problem is that this is more like a public service announcement then a commercial and what company would want to pay for a commercial that didn’t have their name in it…

This really is an extremely interesting debate.

By: James G.

James G. — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:01:27 +0000

The main fear that accompanies direct-to-consumer advertising in the pharmaceutical market is it that it will make more financially established firms more able to obtain market share and profitability as a result of their superior marketing skills rather than their product effectiveness. However, restricting this capitalistic practice could also in effect inhibit the aspiration of pharmaceutical companies to develop more effective drugs because of their diminished opportunities of profit, which would obviously detriment consumers. These two contradicting and logical arguments will need to be taken into consideration before any decision is rendered with regards to the FDA’s regulation over direct-to-consumer advertising in this particular industry.
It’s true that consumers can indeed put pressure on their physicians as to what products they prefer and perceive to be optimal, but it is the physicians that have the ultimate control over which get chosen. Consequently, it is the advertising to physicians that should receive greater scrutiny.

By: garret

garret — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:27:04 +0000

I never knew that other countries look down upon advertising for perscription drugs. That is something that has always bothered me. I hate being in the middle of a show or game and then seeing a erectial disfunction commercial. To be honest it’s just gross. I think the U.S. she rethink this and follow other countries models for airring commercials about perscription drugs.

By: beth h

beth h — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:30:54 +0000

I think this is very interesting. I had no idea we were one of the only countries to allow this, i thought it happened everywhere. I feel like these ads can be a good thing in some circumstances. For instance i had no idea cervical cancer was a big deal until i saw the guardasil commercials. But at the same time there is such an overload these commercials make us think we have every disease we see advertised.

By: deirdre hughson

deirdre hughson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:07:49 +0000

i kind of agree with this… some people will see an advertisement for a certain drug and have “symptoms” then believe they are ill… when really they just need to get some rest or something simple like that.

i’m sure advertising these things does have a positive side…but for the most part not really.

By: Aaron Gage

Aaron Gage — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:06:46 +0000

I was surprised to learn that the United States and New Zealand are the only two countries that allow direct-to-consumer advertising of perscription drugs, I believe other countries are thinking tooo synical when they say that “advertising changes the partient from someone with an illness to a consumer”. I believe advertising gives people a good idea of what people can ask their Doctor for but the Doctor can advise otherwise if the product is bad.