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from the how-will-we-find-the-newest-ED-drugs dept.
AP reports that the American Medical Association has called for a ban on direct-to-consumer ads for prescription drugs and implantable medical devices, saying they contribute to rising costs and patients' demands for inappropriate treatment. According to data cited in an AMA news release, ad dollars spent by drugmakers have risen to $4.5 billion in the last two years, a 30 percent increase. Physicians cited concerns that a growing proliferation of ads is driving demand for expensive treatments despite the clinical effectiveness of less costly alternatives. "Today's vote in support of an advertising ban reflects concerns among physicians about the negative impact of commercially-driven promotions, and the role that marketing costs play in fueling escalating drug prices," said AMA Board Chair-elect Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A. "Direct-to-consumer advertising also inflates demand for new and more expensive drugs, even when these drugs may not be appropriate."
The AMA also calls for convening a physician task force and launching an advocacy campaign to promote prescription drug affordability by demanding choice and competition in the pharmaceutical industry, and greater transparency in prescription drug prices and costs. Last month, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report saying that a high cost of prescription drugs remains the public's top health care priority. In the past few years, prices on generic and brand-name prescription drugs have steadily risen and experienced a 4.7 percent spike in 2015, according to the Altarum Institute Center for Sustainable Health Spending.
(Score: 2) by Dunbal on Wednesday November 18 2015, @11:16PM
Everything was just met with some form of "I can't tell you that, pick something and gtfo"
You can thank lawsuit happy medical predators and their lawyers and the warped jackpot justice system for that. If he tells you one over the other and anything at all goes wrong, you could sue and probably win. Excessive law suits have ruined medicine in the US.
(Score: 2) by Marand on Thursday November 19 2015, @09:39AM
You can thank lawsuit happy medical predators and their lawyers and the warped jackpot justice system for that
That's kind of what I figured, but it's still bullshit that you go to someone trained to handle a certain problem and they leave you to figure it out yourself. The doctor in my case wasn't involved in any part of the process except the part where he walked in, demanded I make a decision without providing any useful information, and then left. What, exactly, was he being paid for there?
Also, not directed to you specifically, but WTF at the troll mod for my comment. Offtopic I could maybe understand since it was on topic to the parent but not so much to TFS, but in what way was that a troll post?
(Score: 2) by Dunbal on Thursday November 19 2015, @12:45PM
There are plenty of people who think "troll" means "anyone who posts something I disagree with". Just ignore them, they rarely have anything useful to contribute. In fact, apart from calling people "troll" they don't do anything at all. They're just part of the background noise on the internet.