The Salem News Online: It’s time to address the double standard in patient protection

By Connie Farrow, Patients Come First Missouri Executive Director

Turn on the TV at any given hour and chances are good that you will see an ad for a cholesterol-lowering statin, plaque psoriasis or some other prescription medicine.

These ads are heavily regulated and can benefit patients by informing them about diseases and treatments and empowering them to seek medical advice. They can also reduce the stigma associated with certain conditions, such as obesity.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Food and Drug Administration recently announced plans to reform direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertisements, citing concerns that patients are not seeing a balance of information.

It’s important to note the FDA already has strict oversight over drug products, which includes disclosing the major risks of the medicine and directing viewers to a source for full safety information.

Read the full LTE in the Salem News Online here.