Big Pharma, Meet Big Media

[Boreas]

I just saw a commercial on television that really takes the cake! By now I'm used to seeing ads for all sorts of pharmaceuticals, including some to treat conditions we didn't know we had ("restless leg syndrome", anyone?) but this one?? WTF??

Are you ready for the "Getaround Knee"? Hey, doc! I want me a couple o' them fancy new knees!

I'm old enough to remember a time when it was illegal to market prescription drugs and surgical appliances to the general public. I think it's still illegal in most countries.

John

[finnbow]

Did you read about GlaxoSmithKline's $3 Billion settlement for fraud in the marketing of its products?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...IJW_story.html

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Did you read about GlaxoSmithKline's $3 Billion settlement for fraud in the marketing of its products?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...IJW_story.html

"Shakedown" Joe Barton will be around to apologize to GSK shortly............

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Did you read about GlaxoSmithKline's $3 Billion settlement for fraud in the marketing of its products?

Sure did! The marketing of adult strength drugs to children is enough to get them kicked out of the country (they're British), as far as I'm concerned. Blue posted about this when it broke, I think.

John

[merrylander]

They met long ago, the high prices have nowt to do with research, they are for the four and five page adverts in all the magazines. Drug companies only keep a presence here so they have access to NIH and university research.

[Boreas]

If we combined the return of the ban on the consumer advertising of prescription drugs with the profit cap in the Affordable Care Act.......

Well, the mind boggles at the savings we'd see!

John

[merrylander]

Is it not farcical, you cannot advertise liquor but you can advertise drugs whoes side effects can be fatal.

[bobabode]

Probably a side benefit is that if a customer asks for the latest concoction they saw an ad for means malpractice would be a harder deal to prove. The list of side effects of these new formulations boggles the mind. Sounds like a suicide pill. I see a similar tack used by the cigarette companys. The classic who me? Thay asked for it defense.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Did you read about GlaxoSmithKline's $3 Billion settlement for fraud in the marketing of its products?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...IJW_story.html

Yes I did.

This is the tip of the iceberg. I think in 50-100 years people will look back at this era of insane prescription use and realize how dangerous we lived.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Is it not farcical, you cannot advertise liquor but you can advertise drugs whoes side effects can be fatal.

Big pharma is probably the most immoral and unethical bushiness on the planet.