The American Medical Association on Tuesday called for a ban on direct-to-consumer ads for prescription drugs and implantable medical devices, saying they contribute to rising costs and patients' demands for inappropriate treatment.
Delegates at the influential group's policy-making meeting in Atlanta voted to adopt that as official policy as part of an AMA effort to make prescription drugs more affordable. It means AMA will lobby for a ban.
"Today's vote in support of an advertising ban reflects concerns among physicians about the negative impact of commercially driven promotions and the role that marketing costs play in fueling escalating drug prices," said Dr. Patrice Harris, an AMA board member.
According to data cited in an AMA news release, ad dollars spent by drug makers have risen to $4.5 billion in the last two years, a 30 percent increase.
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10 comments:
There should also be a ban on lawyer ads
If for nothing else I support this as I am sick and tired of watching commercials on tv whereby they introduce a drug and then spend the next 50 seconds telling you the possible side effects. You cannot even remember the drug nor the purpose thereof due to this lame method of putting together a prescription. Who in their right mind would watch one of those mind numbing wastes of time and then call their doctor the next day to make an appointment (additional related expense) to get this medicine? I hate TV with commercials. I tape everything I can then watch them later and fast forward through this crap.
I agree...All drugs prescription or not are toxic to the body and will kill you with long term use.
Every one of those billions in advertising is passed on to the consumers.
Did they get permission from Obama and Hillary ?
this is long overdue...you can't even watch the evening news with your kids around out of fear of having to explain to a four year old how someone lost their erection and why there is a commercial about it
Yes, long overdue! You have to have a prescription and can't buy them without a doctor's order, so what is the real purpose of the advertising to the consumers? Advertising is very expensive and this is driving the costs sky high.
ABC news will go out of business without drug commercials.
Watch ABC news (If you can stomach the 1/2 hour of lies) and count how many drug commercials play during the show.
Long overdue. I agree 100%.
It's a major impact on drug costs.
Although I agree, the ads DO provide the benefit of knowing how dangerous some of these drugs and their side-effects can be.
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