There was a time when drug companies would try to hawk their wares directly to physicians. Now, they appeal to patients with TV commercials. The idea, I suppose, is that a person watching the commercial and then recognizing the symptoms would persuade his doctor to prescribe it for them. I've been paying particular attention the the "fine print" that is shown at the bottom of the TV screen while the commercial is playing. They go something like this: "results shown are not typical," or "do not expect to achieve these results," and "40 percent of those taking this medicine showed improvement." So while the commercial is describing the wonderful things I can expect from the product the disclaimer tells me not to expect those results. And then while the actors are declaring the benefits of the product there's a quiet voice over warning of symptoms such as depression, suicidal thoughts, anti-social behavior, weight gain, incontinence, an uncontrollable desire to pick up trash and listen to this: excessive flatulence with an oily discharge.
Then there are the law firm commercials that ask: Have you taken _______________and as a result experienced depression, suicidal thoughts, anti-social behavior, weight gain, incontinence, an uncontrollable desire to pick up trash, and excessive flatulence with an oily discharge? If so you may qualify to join a class action law suit and be compensated for your suffering.
Isn't this absurd?
6 comments:
I'm not sure that 'absurd' really covers it. 'insane' or 'criminal' would be nice. I kind of like 'criminal'...
It's always about the money.
It makes you wonder whether you might just succumb to the side effects. How ironic.
Yes it's absurd. It's also big, big, and bigger business. If a person really listens to the high speed rendition of possible side effects in the disclaimer . . . going back to chewing bark and rubbing cactus juice on injuries sounds pretty good.
Not to change the subject (much) how about those beer and whiskey ads that end with "drink responsibly?"
And the mighty faith healing evangelist on tv who hits people over the head and says: "your broken leg and your headache are now healed?"
In America, MONEY comes first. Second, comes the FLAG.
Third, comes the individual. Others come after that.
Horrid. A former coworker lost her husband to suicide in 2009 as a side effect of one those meds.
- sd
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