Should drug company advertising on TV be banned?!

Yes. Thankfully only two countries worldwide are allowed direct to consumer drug advertising - the United States and New Zealand. This said, i have read there are some US cable broadcasters that show drug ads in Canada and a couple of states in Mexico...which is overiding the law of each country. I have seen a few advertisments lately here in Australia talking about some condition with "see your doctor" at the end followed by a drug company logo; so far noticed GSK and Pfizer. This is the only way big pharma can advertise on tv as promoting an actual drug is banned. Next best thing to advertise is to see your doctor who has a prescription pad at the ready.

RedAngel

YES. It should be banned. In the UK, drug companies do not advertise directly to the general public. In the USA, you'll find them advertising drugs for the most bizarre things!

It does create problems. However, Doctors aren't stupid. Most GOOD Doctors won't prescribe a certain drug just to keep the patient happy. There should always be a valid medical indication, and guidelines should always be followed regarding any drug. However, the general public are more easily led than Doctors and research has shown that patients and even some Doctors often request certain drugs that they have seen advertised on the TV.

Even in Canada where you are (and where regulations are tighter) it still causes problems.

I want to slightly drift off topic and discuss where you go wrong with your train of thought. There is no denying that Big Pharma are out to make money... just like alt.med practitioners are. While we are all socialists where healthcare is concerned and feel uncomfortable about it, it isn't wrong that someone stands to make profit from drugs. You must understand this.

Big pharma ARE evil, but perhaps they are the lesser of the two evils? Remember, they have produced some life saving drugs, and if weren't for these drugs, many would not be alive today, or have the quality of life they have.
Big Pharma are necessary, but the way they exploit's certain situations needs to be stopped.

In short, just because Big Pharma sometimes do bad things (and they do), it does not mean that they are bad period. You can't reject something completely just because part of it is bad (and therefore everything is bad). Nothing in life is perfect. Instead, these areas need to be improved.

And just to reiterate, its' fallacious to suggest conventional medicine is bad because of this.

Valid question for once Nosey, just a shame you blocked the logical ones from answering.

Oh yeah. Advertising on TV is particularly dangerous. Our brains enter a more relaxed and highly suggestible state. Advertising is now "high tech" as they know how to subtley influence our desires and our fears.

Anyone who doesn't believe it should stop watching TV for about 6 weeks. Then watch it again and see the difference. You will feel like you are being bombarded.

as much as i despise dope pushing and medicine in general, i also believe in the freedom to speak. at least they are required to list some of the harmful effects in their ads. it is up to the individual to determine if they want to take the risk. it's too bad the drug pushers don't have the same principles and do all they can get away with to censor alternatives.

Originally they were banned - as is tobacco and hard liquors. I think it was mid 90's or late 80's when it was un-banned. I hate those ads, it generates everything that is bad in medicine to become worse.

Yes, they should be banned. They trick viewers .