What is your position on pharmaceuticals directly advertising prescription drugs to consumers?

Is it ethical for pharmaceutical companies to do so? Or should healthcare professionals be responsible for introducing prescription drugs to patients, given that they are more knowledgeable in this area.

jXoannee,
No, I don't think it is ethical to advertise drugs on the media. They put it in the peoples minds that that is what they need, then in turn they tell thier doctor, that's the drug they want. And you know what? The healthcare PROFESSIONAL? gives it to them. It's not just the drug companies that in the wrong here. Doctors get rewards for dispensing certain drugs to people. Most drugs may make you well for the purpose you went to the doctor in the first place, but make you sick in 3 to 5 other areas of your body. I suggest visiting a homepathic herbalists and see if they can help with your sickness. After all God gave us all the medicines we need, naturally!
Drugs?? Only if necessary!!
Itchy

i dont even think healthcare professionals do this responsibly seeing as how they get kick backs from the pharmaceutical companies. i think it is all one big money making machine

yes buy more and be informed.

i work for a company. you need to know whats out there. DRS wont tell you!!!!!!!!!!!!! you need to know going in what kind of birth control you want you need to take control of your medical care. thus advertisements!

Your health professional should introduce a drug if absolutely necessary.These drugs are costing people in America their health! It is unethical for pharmaceutical companies to advertise. It is all about the money.

You found a pet peeve of mine. I find those infomercials really offensive because they want you to think it's expert advice you should be pushing on your doctor. I think these infomercials are not only driving up the cost of drugs but also making us a nation of hypocondriacs. Feel bad get that little yellow pill, can't poop..take this medicine, sexal arousal to difficult (huh?) take this pill..watch out if your penis explodes though. The commercials deliberate play on your emotions to make you feel so sorry for that poor person talking about how they suffer. Then some hammy actors dressed up like doctors rapidly talking about side effects... by the way, side effects include sterility, prolapsed rectum, metal illness, skin ulcers, and blindness; so fast you can barely register that the medicine they're pushing can be worse than your symptoms. the worse one I've seen so far is that pretend medical student class following the professor around like baby ducks all the while talking about statins vs some other cholesterol blocker. Real sleazoid.