Is advertising speech?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yes, the SCOTUS has ruled that. Free speech isn't just about a person's political beliefs.

http://www.abuse.net/commercial.html

[Odin]

Prescription drugs should not be advertised, as Aggie said, in encourages people to take medicines they don't really need, Like when comercials convinced my mom to put me on Paxil, wich was later found out to be absolutely worthless, no better than a placebo.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Odin
Prescription drugs should not be advertised, as Aggie said, in encourages people to take medicines they don't really need, Like when comercials convinced my mom to put me on Paxil, wich was later found out to be absolutely worthless, no better than a placebo.

You still need a doctor to write the script... If you don't need them, DON'T BLAME THE ADVERTISING... blame your doctor.

It does encourage people to talk to their doctors... if their doctors are "paid off" by the drug companies and recommend drugs you don't need, point the blame where it belongs.

[Felch]

Perscription drugs are advertised over the airwaves in the US, but if the benefits are cited so must the side affects. Thus you have the vague "You're life will improve when you ask your doctor about XTC," and the more specific, "XTC makes you ridicuously happy, but can also kill you." Also they direct you towards places where you can get more information, usually an ad in a general interest magazine.

It shouldn't happen like that though. But Big Pharma has Deep Pockets.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Yes, the SCOTUS has ruled that. Free speech isn't just about a person's political beliefs.

http://www.abuse.net/commercial.html

From my understanding of what I read from that link that advertising though can be regulated. There are a lot of regurlations that are imposed on advertising. One that comes to mind is that a person that is endorsing a product has to use it or did use it. Also in regard to health suppliments and diet pills, the makes cannot claim that it can curse or treat any disease. There are many more examples where advertising for pure commerial interest is somewhat regulated by the government. Those regulations may have been losen over the years, but they still exist.

As for Doctors advertising in the United States, they do so all the time. Just get a copy of the yellow pages of any major US city and you can find ads for Doctors.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by Felch
Perscription drugs are advertised over the airwaves in the US, but if the benefits are cited so must the side affects. Thus you have the vague "You're life will improve when you ask your doctor about XTC," and the more specific, "XTC makes you ridicuously happy, but can also kill you." Also they direct you towards places where you can get more information, usually an ad in a general interest magazine.

It shouldn't happen like that though. But Big Pharma has Deep Pockets.

Well I have watch many ads for perscription durgs, and it has not given me the urge to take the durgs or even talk about it with my doctor.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Jack_www
Well I have watch many ads for perscription durgs, and it has not given me the urge to take the durgs or even talk about it with my doctor.

A typical response... good for you... "some" people here think advertising can make people do all kinds of things they don't want...

Some people aren't aware that there are drugs available that might be able to help them. They should ask their doctor... Prescription drug advertising is heavily regulated, having to back up any claim, and listing all potential side effects... In some cases, it sounds like the side effects are worse than the reason you would be taking the drug for

[mrmitchell]

Something tells me Ming handles drug company accounts? Awfully defensive there

[notyoueither]

Some of those ads are great.

People with great hair walking on the beach with the setters.

People climbing to the top of a peak.

Calming music... and the pitch line 'if you think that Rogainavigra could be for you, talk to your doctor.'

Makes me want to rush right out and ask my doctor for the drug that will give me a full head of hair and another head full of something else...

Now if only the drug came with the women in the ads, I'd be all set.

[Ming]

Originally posted by mrmitchell
Something tells me Ming handles drug company accounts? Awfully defensive there

Actually... No, my company won't except business from drug companies... My current company does NOT do consumer advertising. We are exclusively business to business.

[Bill3000]

Ih my opinion, the dangers advirtisements for prescription drugs potentially have are a far cry from the dangers that some of the nonregulated drugs' advirtisements would have.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by Ming


A typical response... good for you... "some" people here think advertising can make people do all kinds of things they don't want...

I agree way to many people think that Advertising brain washes people into buying products. If someone does not want to buy something all the advertising in the world will not change it. Usually is targeted to people who will want to use that product, not to people who dont want to use the product.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by Bill3000
Ih my opinion, the dangers advirtisements for prescription drugs potentially have are a far cry from the dangers that some of the nonregulated drugs' advirtisements would have.

What danagers are there in having a drug company telling people about a drug they sell??? That makes no sense to me.

[RGBVideo]

So SCOTUS ruled that advertising is speech? That's a bit odd to me, since as I said, advertising is not about a person's statement on any particular issue.

Uhh no, it's pretty universal. Free speech means free speech, not "free speech but only when you're talking about politics". Making up doublespeak.

[Bill3000]

Originally posted by Jack_www


What danagers are there in having a drug company telling people about a drug they sell??? That makes no sense to me.

"whatever percieved dangers" and whatnot. Meh, my point of that post was on nonverified "herbal supplements."