The Independent Medical Alliance (IMA) urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to enact an immediate ban on direct-to-consumer paid advertising of individual prescription drugs.
That's true, but it's better to get at the root cause of why they have so much $$ to buy ads with - rather than violating the first amendment, which guarantees freedom of the speech - a critically important right that should never be encroached.
Another big issue with Big Pharma advertising is it creates a conflict of interest with the media who run the ads. This has resulted in less to zero coverage of any problems or issues associated with prescribed drugs.
They banned smoking commercials (because they advertised people into injuring themselves.) Advertising drugs to get people to demand a "medicine" they know nothing about - huh - looks like the same problem to me.
No, they were banned in the past for good reason! They are not trying to sell their drugs! They are buying power over the media! Being media’s biggest advertiser puts them in a position mandate political control.
I agree 100% and would add in addition to capturing the media they (big pharma) also has captured the entire health care system from the universities, FDA, CDC, to the doctors themselves. Promoting medications and vaccines that do more damage than good. Doctors and health care should be free of outside influence.
You may be too young to remember the Dr.s advertising smoking on TV as "good for you." Like the jab. You still cant get most in med to admit it damaged anyone. There simply is no way to have logical debate with liars.
When I moved to the US from UK and saw the ads for this med and that med and listened to all the side effects, my first thought was Why on Gods green earth would you want to take it? Cure one thing but get 10 others to take its place. No thank you. I will stick with the God given herbs and plants. I do watch and listen to the Doc’s of IMA but in 17 years I have seen a Doc 5 times, 3 times after accidentally inhaling drain cleaner fumes which caused pericarditis (I think that’s what it was, the fluid around my heart was the colour and consistency of thick green pea soup) and I had to have intravenous antibiotics for that plus for each of my hip replacements. I took cannabis oil for the pain which wasn’t that bad after the hip replacements. Knocking 70 now and zero prescription drugs, drugs are exactly what they are.
These tv commercials look like major theatrical productions! Instead of focusing on the root cause, they want more & more people taking drugs that only mask the problem.
Yes... no more direct to consumer advertising for any OTC or Rx products. Pharma may be allowed to "sponsor'' a TV or Radio program but no more ads. Let us join almost all the other nations in the world that ban this practice.
Americans expect a pill to cure their every ailment. Advertisement by Big Pharma is driving this. There are at least 2 drug ads per commercial break on every program and I’m not exaggerating. It’s disgusting. What happens then is patients come to see their doctors and say “I saw this drug on TV and I think it might work”. The Dr. being owned by big Pharma already says sure why not! It’s a horrible way to treat patients and run a healthcare system. Get em off TV!
Advertising is a form of free speech and freedom of the press. The health freedom movement has been greatly damaged by assaults on this freedom. We shouldn't do the same. It's hypocritical and WILL NOT WORK. It assumes consumers are dumb and need government protection from information.
The problem is NOT pharmaceuticals' exercising their free speech. The problem is all the many other government interventions that give them undue power, including:
1. Massive government subsidies in the R&D of drugs
2. Government mandates, e.g., to take vaccines
3. Other government prohibitions and controls that dictate what drugs may or may not be sold, purchased, or consumed - via the FDA, insurance regulations, hospital regulations, and licensing laws.
4. Government corruption which has covered up information about the dangers and lack of efficacy of approved drugs and which has suppressed information about alternative treatments that ARE safe and effective.
5. Government purchase of billions of dollars in drugs - which gives the pharmas the $$ to buy tons of advertising.
6. Government laws - 1986 act and PREP - that absolve the pharmas of liability, which gives them more profits with which to buy ads
All of these are GOVERNMENT forces that massively distort the drug market.
Do NOT call for limiting free speech and freedom of the press.
DO call for removing the above very destructive government forces. That's true health freedom and will allow consumers to be empowered, knowledgeable, healthy, and safe.
Yes. How about also mentioning that that “spend“ serves as hush money paid to Big Media, preventing honest reporting. Do it. Then next please… how about passing a law that makes gain of function anything illegal and punishable by death!
I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding your comment; are you saying that pharma ads should be allowed because of FREE SPEECH? Should how-to-rob-a-bank or how-to-murder-your-spouse ads then be allowed, too? The greatest argument AGAINST drug ads isn't "we don't like what you're saying," it's that allowing pharma to spend billions of dollars on advertising will and does negatively impact the network's willingness to accurately report on side effects, deaths, accusations of illegality by the drug companies (which are copious and well-documented), and more. Apologies if I took your comment the wrong way. ;)
Jenna - my understanding of why big pharma advertises is not to get people to ask their doctor in order to sell more drugs - it’s because with all the money they pay to advertise on MSM, they virtually OWN the MSM. Therefore they only report what big pharma allows them to report.
The argument is that since a doctor is required to prescribe said medication then only he or she in conjunction with the patient may decide what and how to prescribe. No one is saying a patient can’t jump on pub med and look at treatment protocols and new drug therapies for themselves and “do their own research “ I think everyone should do so. That said I don’t think the billions they spend keeping legacy media brought to you by Pfizer has in any way shape or form been a boon to humanity just judging from medical outcomes in the USA. And also judging from the complete lack of willingness from said media to actually investigate pharma at all. It’s verboten anymore. 100% bought and paid for silence.
I’m just giving you your requested legal reason. It’s prescription only and requires a physician to prescribe. It also smacks of bribery which is the higher level of abuse when money is controlling the fourth estate which was designed as a protection—the reason for freedom of the press. When the press is bought and silenced we are left with our own wits and not everyone has the wherewithal to say no. We need the fourth estate to be independent of the financial gain so clearly being used to buy only good press.
So much will change if those ads are gone.
“Legacy” media, especially television and cable, will immediately feel the pain if this advertising cash-cow is taken.
And the consequences may include (finally) reporting or investigating the wrong doings of said companies.
That's true, but it's better to get at the root cause of why they have so much $$ to buy ads with - rather than violating the first amendment, which guarantees freedom of the speech - a critically important right that should never be encroached.
Another big issue with Big Pharma advertising is it creates a conflict of interest with the media who run the ads. This has resulted in less to zero coverage of any problems or issues associated with prescribed drugs.
They banned smoking commercials (because they advertised people into injuring themselves.) Advertising drugs to get people to demand a "medicine" they know nothing about - huh - looks like the same problem to me.
No, they were banned in the past for good reason! They are not trying to sell their drugs! They are buying power over the media! Being media’s biggest advertiser puts them in a position mandate political control.
I agree 100% and would add in addition to capturing the media they (big pharma) also has captured the entire health care system from the universities, FDA, CDC, to the doctors themselves. Promoting medications and vaccines that do more damage than good. Doctors and health care should be free of outside influence.
You may be too young to remember the Dr.s advertising smoking on TV as "good for you." Like the jab. You still cant get most in med to admit it damaged anyone. There simply is no way to have logical debate with liars.
I'm sorry - are you a lawyer?
I LOVE THAT THE IMA IS ON BOARD WITH THIS AND VOCAL ABOUT IT!!! So honored to be part of your crew. :)
I HATE those pharma ads! I mute them all.
Every morning my husband and I noticed advertising drugs for seniors. "Ask your doctor if this is right for you." Why should I ask him?
When I moved to the US from UK and saw the ads for this med and that med and listened to all the side effects, my first thought was Why on Gods green earth would you want to take it? Cure one thing but get 10 others to take its place. No thank you. I will stick with the God given herbs and plants. I do watch and listen to the Doc’s of IMA but in 17 years I have seen a Doc 5 times, 3 times after accidentally inhaling drain cleaner fumes which caused pericarditis (I think that’s what it was, the fluid around my heart was the colour and consistency of thick green pea soup) and I had to have intravenous antibiotics for that plus for each of my hip replacements. I took cannabis oil for the pain which wasn’t that bad after the hip replacements. Knocking 70 now and zero prescription drugs, drugs are exactly what they are.
These tv commercials look like major theatrical productions! Instead of focusing on the root cause, they want more & more people taking drugs that only mask the problem.
US & New Zealand are the only 2 countries that allow this. big pharma/big gov't/big tech all place profits over people's health. In GOD we Trust ...
Yes... no more direct to consumer advertising for any OTC or Rx products. Pharma may be allowed to "sponsor'' a TV or Radio program but no more ads. Let us join almost all the other nations in the world that ban this practice.
I don’t even think that’s a good idea. It lets them threaten or bribe away any story they don’t like. It’s too powerful as we saw during Covid.
I hope this goes through, some people believe everything if it’s on TV & they think they need it.
Americans expect a pill to cure their every ailment. Advertisement by Big Pharma is driving this. There are at least 2 drug ads per commercial break on every program and I’m not exaggerating. It’s disgusting. What happens then is patients come to see their doctors and say “I saw this drug on TV and I think it might work”. The Dr. being owned by big Pharma already says sure why not! It’s a horrible way to treat patients and run a healthcare system. Get em off TV!
It was the first Clinton who allowed direct to consumer advertising by Big Pharma. In case you ever wondered where their millions came from.
Yes, Clinton also allowed baby formulas to be advertised and that opened the door for Pharma because they owned the formula manufacturers!
On this point, I disagree with IMA.
Advertising is a form of free speech and freedom of the press. The health freedom movement has been greatly damaged by assaults on this freedom. We shouldn't do the same. It's hypocritical and WILL NOT WORK. It assumes consumers are dumb and need government protection from information.
The problem is NOT pharmaceuticals' exercising their free speech. The problem is all the many other government interventions that give them undue power, including:
1. Massive government subsidies in the R&D of drugs
2. Government mandates, e.g., to take vaccines
3. Other government prohibitions and controls that dictate what drugs may or may not be sold, purchased, or consumed - via the FDA, insurance regulations, hospital regulations, and licensing laws.
4. Government corruption which has covered up information about the dangers and lack of efficacy of approved drugs and which has suppressed information about alternative treatments that ARE safe and effective.
5. Government purchase of billions of dollars in drugs - which gives the pharmas the $$ to buy tons of advertising.
6. Government laws - 1986 act and PREP - that absolve the pharmas of liability, which gives them more profits with which to buy ads
All of these are GOVERNMENT forces that massively distort the drug market.
Do NOT call for limiting free speech and freedom of the press.
DO call for removing the above very destructive government forces. That's true health freedom and will allow consumers to be empowered, knowledgeable, healthy, and safe.
Yes. How about also mentioning that that “spend“ serves as hush money paid to Big Media, preventing honest reporting. Do it. Then next please… how about passing a law that makes gain of function anything illegal and punishable by death!
No thanks.
I am a staunch supporter of freedom of speech, and I am very grateful to live in the only country in the world with both a 1st and 2nd Amendment.
These are features, not bugs.
One only "believes in free speech", of course, if one opposes censoring those one despises, or those whose message one despises, or both.
Otherwise it is simply a virtue-signaling affectation.
I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding your comment; are you saying that pharma ads should be allowed because of FREE SPEECH? Should how-to-rob-a-bank or how-to-murder-your-spouse ads then be allowed, too? The greatest argument AGAINST drug ads isn't "we don't like what you're saying," it's that allowing pharma to spend billions of dollars on advertising will and does negatively impact the network's willingness to accurately report on side effects, deaths, accusations of illegality by the drug companies (which are copious and well-documented), and more. Apologies if I took your comment the wrong way. ;)
Jenna - my understanding of why big pharma advertises is not to get people to ask their doctor in order to sell more drugs - it’s because with all the money they pay to advertise on MSM, they virtually OWN the MSM. Therefore they only report what big pharma allows them to report.
BINGO
The argument is that since a doctor is required to prescribe said medication then only he or she in conjunction with the patient may decide what and how to prescribe. No one is saying a patient can’t jump on pub med and look at treatment protocols and new drug therapies for themselves and “do their own research “ I think everyone should do so. That said I don’t think the billions they spend keeping legacy media brought to you by Pfizer has in any way shape or form been a boon to humanity just judging from medical outcomes in the USA. And also judging from the complete lack of willingness from said media to actually investigate pharma at all. It’s verboten anymore. 100% bought and paid for silence.
I’m just giving you your requested legal reason. It’s prescription only and requires a physician to prescribe. It also smacks of bribery which is the higher level of abuse when money is controlling the fourth estate which was designed as a protection—the reason for freedom of the press. When the press is bought and silenced we are left with our own wits and not everyone has the wherewithal to say no. We need the fourth estate to be independent of the financial gain so clearly being used to buy only good press.
How is it "Free"speech when a $30 Billion budget is used to buy their voices. Sorry your argument does not fly
Hard liquor was banned for years just like cigarettes! Should still be banned along with drugs!