Friday, December 15, 2006

Think how I'd feel if I had ever actually worked on a pharma account

It's perfectly understandable that physicians would detest pharma advertising. After all, wouldn't that media money be better spent providing them with cruises, topless dancers or "research" funds? Besides, it must be hard to concentrate what with patients always talking, always asking their pesky little questions.

But when regular people complain -- I don't know. Is that just the common tendency to suspect any big industry? Or is it patronizing and a little cold-hearted?

I only ask because this article seems to give voice to the very people who are almost never heard from in this debate: the sufferers -- and you don't have to be at death's door to truly, noticeably suffer. If you have a good health plan, if you have a trusted doctor, drug ads may be lost on you. But for others, a TV spot may be the only way they learn of a life-changing drug -- and this shouldn't make them less deserving of treatment.

7 comments:

Irene Done said...

Are you saying that drug ads should have more or less restrictions to be of value?

You can’t bar an industry from advertising just because its creative execution has always sucked. Legal restrictions and disclaimers are obviously a function of outside forces, not of the companies themselves. And if there’s a rush to market, that’s a problem that, as you point out, needs to be fixed earlier in the process. It’s separate from the issue of advertising.

When people talk about banning drug advertising to consumers, I get scared for two reasons. One, I think a drug company should be able to market their products, make money, re-invest in more research, rinse and repeat until eventually it all helps me. Second, advertising in its way lets people take a role in their own healthcare. Yes, a doctor should be the ultimate decision-maker (even though pharma courts them too) but why can’t I be exposed to new messages? If you say regular people can’t be trusted to make decisions about their own healthcare, then I think you invite a kind of paternalistic, regulatory oversight that you’ll one day regret.

HighJive said...

When people talk about drug advertising to consumers, I get scared for two reasons: the Viagra and Rozerem campaigns.

Irene Done said...

MTLB -- What are these rules you speak of? It's the internets and this is, as Michael Eisner knows, a brog. Anyone can leave a comment of any length, especially if it makes me laugh. I think we mainly agree about pharma because I too think the warnings are pointless and serve only to keep lawyers employed.

But you are wrong, wrong, wrong about Crestor. It was Vytorin who fought Godzilla for control of Japan. Everyone knows that.

HighJive said...

On the one hand, pharma ads require all the disclaimers because the advertisers have established themselves as being untrustworthy and downright sleazy.

On the other hand, traditional advertisers from industries like fast food, financial services, political organizations, etc. are no less evil.

Anonymous said...

Actually, PHARMACISTS are much smarter about drugs & their side effects than doctors are. I've worked with pharmacists...& I have several chronic illnesses, so I know whereof I speak. I would NEVER trust a doc to tell me all the side effects. I've had several bad experiences--I MUST know everything about each drug I have to take. Thank goodness I used to work with my pharmacist.

Irene Done said...

Anonymous -- that's interesting. I never thought of how important pharmacists can be in the whole process but you're absolutely right. It's likely that pharmacists often spend more time with patients than some doctors do.

Anonymous said...

Same anonymous as before--call me Lyn. I'm not sure if pharmacy companies "court" pharmacists, but they definitely do docs. They're such pests, those pharmacy reps! (I've worked in docs' offices a bit, as well as an in-house hospital pharmacy as a tech.)

Since I posted the last comment, I've had 2 more bad side effects that made me stop taking 2 meds. And one was a Parkinson's drug--I don't have that illness! Why a rheumatologist prescribed that for me still mystifies me--I think he thought it'd help my fibromyalgia & insomnia. It made me throw up.

I am extremely frustrated when patients themselves don't know what side effects their meds have! My mom doesn't & it worries me. She just takes whatever her doc gives her. *sigh*

Blind faith in doctors is NOT a good thing! Or pharmacists, but they can certainly tell you if your multiple drugs will be incompatible. EVERY patient should talk to his/her pharmacist--& get ALL their meds from ONE pharmacy. Computer programs also help the pharmacists keep track of interactions between meds.