Personal responsibility in promoting individual health

Health Policy
November 7, 2011

In March 2010 President Barack Obama and the Democratic-led Congress passed the single largest change in the American health care industry since the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) aims to drastically change the way that health care is delivered and financed. It partially draws upon the idea of personal responsibility and its role in promoting individual health. Some states, notably …

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Personal responsibility in promoting individual health

Minimize the potentially harmful effects of DTC advertising

Medications
December 24, 2010

Part 3 of a series.  Please read part 1, DTC advertising, and its history with the FDA, and part 2, Economic and commercial impact of DTC advertising.

In the first two parts of this article, we explored the historical and legal contexts of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, the effects of these ads on prescribing behavior, and the economic incentives to advertise.

In this final installment, we will …

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Minimize the potentially harmful effects of DTC advertising

Economic and commercial impact of DTC advertising

Medications
November 5, 2010

Part 2 of a series.  Please read part 1, DTC advertising, and its history with the FDA.

In the first installment, we looked at the history behind consumer advertising of prescription drugs. We also explored the concept of commercial free speech and why this form of advertising is legal. To fully appreciate the controversy about direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, we must now examine the commercial effects of these ad campaigns. …

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Economic and commercial impact of DTC advertising

DTC advertising, and its history with the FDA

Medications
September 18, 2010

Advertising is everywhere.

That should come as no surprise to anyone who has lived in modern America. It is impossible to turn on the television, ride the subway, or even sort through the daily mail without coming across an ad for a new car, a soft drink, or the latest digital toy. These advertisements have only one goal: to entice you to buy their products. This is harmless enough when these …

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DTC advertising, and its history with the FDA