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May 13, 2008
U.S. House panel questions drug industry about direct-to-consumer advertising
ABC World News (5/8, story 7, 2:25, Gibson) reported that on Thursday on Capitol Hill, "lawmakers had some tough questions" for the pharmaceutical industry. Questions have been raised "about whether ads for some big-selling drugs have been misleading, perhaps putting consumers at risk."
During a hearing by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce subcommittee "to discuss specific ads by Pfizer, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co, Inc., and Schering-Plough Corp.," Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) "said television commercials, in particular, use deceptive techniques to push products to potential patients and increase sales," Reuters (5/9, Heavey) explains. Rep. Stupak suggested that it may be necessary for Congress to "enforce significant restrictions" on direct-to-consumer (DTC) ads in order "to protect American consumers from manipulative commercials designed to mislead and deceive for the profit of pharmaceutical companies."
According to Rep. Stupak, "Congress should consider new restrictions on ads," the Boston Globe /Bloomberg (5/9) notes. In addition, the AMA testified that a "moratorium should be placed on ads for newly approved drugs until doctors are educated and regulators have signed off on the messages."
Related Links:
- "The Truth Behind Drug Ads: Lawmakers Question Whether Pharmaceutical Drug Tell the Truth," Lisa Stark, Tom Shine and Kate Barrett, ABC News, May 8, 2008.
- "Drugmakers need to rein in ads, hearing told," Susan Heavey, Reuters, May 8, 2008.
- "AMA Calls For Limits on Drug Ads," Bloomberg News in the Boston Globe, May 9, 2008.
Posted by admin at May 13, 2008 04:22 PM