Is the way that drugs are promoted on TV unethical?

Question

Should it be illegal to tout prescription drugs on TV?

Answer 1

Completely unethical, since those drugs can only be dispensed by a Physician. Its already bad enough that they give perks to doctors who dispense their drugs, which is unethical in a different way. Doctors should dispense drugs which they feel are correct for the patient's diagnosis, and not influenced by monetary gains received from a drug company.

From what I understand, the United States is the only nation that even allows direct marketing of prescription drugs to the general public. Drug companies in the USA often spend more money marketing a drug than developing it, resulting in much higher street prices. This is why overseas drugs are cheaper.

Answer 2

We live in a free market economy with protected public speech. Like it or not, drug companies can promote their product as they wish so long as they don't out and out lie, and if they do lie it's up to the American public to do something about it. Perhaps if more Americans read and practiced critical thinking they wouldn't be suckered into things so easily.

Answer 3

If the drug companies pay the TV companies enough then they will relax any standard of ethics. Morality is very much subsidiary to money.

Answer 4

Yes, and they make me sick! They are really pushing the idea that a prescription drug solves every problem, when we don't know the long term effects.

Answer 5

first we would have to stop the showing of non prescription drugs such as cocaine and herion , which I see alot more on T.V. then drugs over the counter .

Answer 6

then it should be illegal to advertise beer and asprin too