Pros And Cons Of Prescription Drug Advertisements
Americans are bombarded with hundreds of advertisements on a daily basis. Whether it is TV commercials, billboards, radio commercials, or an ad at the side of a web page, advertisements are inescapable. However, there is a certain type of advertisement that Americans are exposed to that most other nations are not: prescription drug advertisements. In a nation built on consumerism, where people are often too easily influenced by the advertisements they see, is this really a beneficial or safe practice? Many would say no. These advertisements can often have negative impacts on consumers perceptions of their doctors, and even on their own health. However, others would argue that these advertisements are beneficial because they put information
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Prescription Drug advertisements, called Direct to Consumer advertisements, or DTC for short, are dangerous. One reason for this is that “side effects are often not communicated in a comprehensive manner in advertising or marketing communications” (“Direct to Consumer Advertising” 3). Patients walk in asking for a prescription without even knowing what side effects it may have, simply because they saw a commercial for the medication and decided they needed it. Furthermore, if a patient becomes convinced they need a medication and cannot get their doctor to prescribe it, they may go to illegal measures to try to get the medication without a prescription (“Direct to Consumer Advertising” 3). This is highly dangerous, as …show more content…
However, most people do not have advanced medical degrees. Without knowledge of how medication works,, how can someone truly know what medication will solve their problem? Furthermore, DTC advertisements can make patients feel as if they know better than their doctors. “Patients who are convinced that an advertised drug will solve their problems often mistrust a doctor’s advice if the doctor suggests an alternate solution” (“Prescription Drug Ads”). The ideal situation is a scenario in which patients and doctors work as a team to combat an illness, not one in which patients feel as if they know more than their own doctor. DTC advertisements are creating the opposite climate. And although these advertisements have clear negative effects, many argue that they have had benefits to our
Prescription Drug advertisements, called Direct to Consumer advertisements, or DTC for short, are dangerous. One reason for this is that “side effects are often not communicated in a comprehensive manner in advertising or marketing communications” (“Direct to Consumer Advertising” 3). Patients walk in asking for a prescription without even knowing what side effects it may have, simply because they saw a commercial for the medication and decided they needed it. Furthermore, if a patient becomes convinced they need a medication and cannot get their doctor to prescribe it, they may go to illegal measures to try to get the medication without a prescription (“Direct to Consumer Advertising” 3). This is highly dangerous, as …show more content…
However, most people do not have advanced medical degrees. Without knowledge of how medication works,, how can someone truly know what medication will solve their problem? Furthermore, DTC advertisements can make patients feel as if they know better than their doctors. “Patients who are convinced that an advertised drug will solve their problems often mistrust a doctor’s advice if the doctor suggests an alternate solution” (“Prescription Drug Ads”). The ideal situation is a scenario in which patients and doctors work as a team to combat an illness, not one in which patients feel as if they know more than their own doctor. DTC advertisements are creating the opposite climate. And although these advertisements have clear negative effects, many argue that they have had benefits to our