Consumer Group: Ban Radio, TV Prescription Drug Ads

A consumer group is calling for a ban on all TV and radio ads for prescription drugs. 

BROADCASTING AND CABLE is reporting that CONSUMER ALERT Exec. Dir. GARY RUSKIN told a FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION hearing that "(t)here is a fundamental flaw in the concept of advertising prescription pharmaceuticals directly to the patient, and that is the inability to provide them complete, meaningful and useful information," a quote taken from a drug company's statement to Congress 20 years ago.

RUSKIN said that consumer print advertising should be allowed only if it includes the complete FDA-approved dosage and warning label, and does not include emotional appeals, which he said would be impossible for TV and radio ads to follow, hence the proposal that they be banned. 

The ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ADVERTISERS' DAN JAFFEE responded by calling the proposal "radical, misguided and unconstitutional."

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