MDs often prescribe advertised drugs

A new survey published in Consumer Reports magazine, 78 percent of the physicians surveyed say their patients have asked for drugs advertised on TV. More importantly, however, is the fact that 67 percent admit to prescribing the drug after patients ask for it. The report underscores the impact direct-to-consumer advertising can have on both patients and physicians. Consumer Reports urges patients to ignore the ads. Some doctors think that DTC drug advertising does have some value, since it informs patients of treatments or conditions they might not have known about otherwise. But a recent GAO report faulted the FDA for not doing enough to regulate drug ads. As a result, ads can contain misleading, inappropriate or incorrect information. Drug advertising volume was already hitting $4.2 billion in 2005 and it is predicted to grow at a rate of 20 percent per year.

For more on DTC advertising:
- check out this article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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