Since the late 1990s, drug companies have spent tens of billions of dollars on television ads, drumming up demand for their products with cheerful jingles and scenes of dancing patients.
If a treatment relies on advertising then it probably isn’t very effective. In fact, there’s boatloads of treatments that get approved by the FDA because they meet the minimum standard of “not going to kill someone right away and some folks showed a minor improvement.” It doesn’t mean they’re any good or worth trying just because you heard about them in an ad.
Not only that but doctors know about all the treatments for the things they specialize in. You think they’re living under a rock‽ They know about that treatment X that’s being advertised everywhere but they also know that it didn’t show an efficacy at all at treating your specific condition(s) or they’ll know that the risk it carries outweighs the potential benefits.
Doctors know 10,000 times more than you (or health insurers!) do about what’s medically necessary and/or effective. If a patient suggests a treatment don’t be surprised if the doctor’s eyes roll. “Here we go again.”
Ads for prescription medications are a huge waste of money and they also waste doctors time explaining why they’re not a good idea for all the zillions of patients that “ask their doctor” about them.
It’s really a pain in the ass. People wanting to use stuff just because they saw it on tv. I’m a hospice nurse. Those old people are bombarded with ads and scams.
If a treatment relies on advertising then it probably isn’t very effective. In fact, there’s boatloads of treatments that get approved by the FDA because they meet the minimum standard of “not going to kill someone right away and some folks showed a minor improvement.” It doesn’t mean they’re any good or worth trying just because you heard about them in an ad.
Not only that but doctors know about all the treatments for the things they specialize in. You think they’re living under a rock‽ They know about that treatment X that’s being advertised everywhere but they also know that it didn’t show an efficacy at all at treating your specific condition(s) or they’ll know that the risk it carries outweighs the potential benefits.
Doctors know 10,000 times more than you (or health insurers!) do about what’s medically necessary and/or effective. If a patient suggests a treatment don’t be surprised if the doctor’s eyes roll. “Here we go again.”
Ads for prescription medications are a huge waste of money and they also waste doctors time explaining why they’re not a good idea for all the zillions of patients that “ask their doctor” about them.
It’s really a pain in the ass. People wanting to use stuff just because they saw it on tv. I’m a hospice nurse. Those old people are bombarded with ads and scams.