Comments on: Why doctors say YES when they mean NO

By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:48:18 +0000

Hi Cave – YES, the U.S. and N.Z. are the only two countries in which Direct To Consumer ads are legal. You’re right – I live just a 2-hour ferry ride from Seattle across the border, so we are exposed to lots of American TV ads here. But in 2000, for some nutty reason, Canada changed gears to allow ‘reminder ads’ for prescription drugs – thus becoming the only country on earth that prohibits DTC ads, yet makes an exception for branded reminder advertising. This is a form of advertising that states the brand name of the drug without any health care claims (like the famous dancing/jumping man Viagra ads you’ve probably seen on TV). Reminder ads are prohibited in all other developed countries that ban DTC ads. More on this at: “Top 10 Most Misleading Drug Ads“.
cheers,
C.

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By: cave76

cave76 — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:53:30 +0000

I did a quick jaunt through Google and it seems that NZ and the U.S. are the only two countries that allow DTC drug ads on TV. Is that the latest information? But that’s circumvented sometimes by cable transmission from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico. And other weasel ways.

Two sentences gleaned:

1. […] many doctors neglect to take the time to explain all the potential side effects of a drug. Likewise, many patients fail to thoroughly read all the literature the pharmacy provides with the prescription.

And how can they in the little time they have with patients a la HMOs? Plus the doctors would have to educate the patient about what a Western Blot is, for example. There goes more time.

2. […]there is a benefit to consumers in knowing about new medicines and their possible side effects.

We-e-e-lll, I dunno. It depends on where the consumers get that information? Would they learn medicaleze enough to read the ‘terror sheets’ (package inserts)? Or would they consider Oprah or Dr. Oz the ultimate in valid information?

I agree that it’s the consumer that has to stay on their toes—- it’s their responsibility. But, thereby hangs many tails, which I won’t mention right now.

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By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:48:57 +0000

I agree, Dr. Joe. That’s why it must be particularly frustrating for docs in countries (the U.S. and New Zealand) that still allow Direct To Consumer (“Ask Your Doctor”) pharmaceutical ads – whose sole purpose is to get the consumer to walk into their doctor’s office demanding the drugs featured in these DTC ads.

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By: Dr Joe Kosterich

Dr Joe Kosterich — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:53:33 +0000

Medicine is taught as a “science” but practiced as an “art”. More than pure “research (dodgy or legit) science” is involved in managing patients and their expectations. Ultimately as a doctor my role is to advise. People are free to ignore that advice. Sometimes I will make a stand. Other times it is seriously not worth it BUT there are ways of planting a seed for next time. One of my favorites is “you can have a script for an antibiotic but it will do nothing for you.” Reverse placebo if you like.

As patients become consumers,they too need to take responsibility for decisions they make.
Not everything can be loaded onto the doctors shoulders.

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