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...if the ONLY people they needed to convince to purchase their drugs were the patients.
Glenn,
You make some convincing arguments for your point of view on this matter, but I'd be really concerned about how the drug industry would develop if they could control the market simply through advertising. Will it develop like the beer industry, where each product is virtually same and it is only the brand's image that separates them? We're already awash in drug commercials, but they still have to tell you to consult your doctor. While the system is far from perfect, the doctor at least acts as a balance to the claims of the drug makers. Without this check, we would start seeing commercials featuring a starlet like Lindsay Lohan decked out for a night on the town, putting the last touches on her mascara, and then, turning to the camera, she'd say, "I'm not ready for the next Holywood party until I've revved my engine." Then she'd open her golden pill case, pop the lid, then pop a little red tablet into her mouth. Cut to the scene of her driving off in her red Ferrari. Or, imagine the steroid commercials featuring famous athletes aimed at teenage boys.
People who are ill aren't always going to be rational, and certainly drug manufacturers are not above capitalizing on that fact.
Given the fact that most of the comments from your loyal readers disagree with you, I think it is safe to conclude that most of us don't trust ourselves to make reasoned, rational decisions about what drugs to take.
