Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19365

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Spence D
We need a Sunshine Act in the UK
BMJ 2011 Mar 16; 342:
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d1647.extract

Abstract:

The United States is different. Its citizens have far too many horribly straight, white teeth. They wear checks, stripes, and bold colours all at the same time, all topped off with a baseball cap. They speak so loudly that you would swear they had a hearing impairment (probably caused by loud whooping as teenagers).

America’s style of medicine is foreign to us, too. The dogma of free enterprise allows direct to consumer advertising, which has made drug names as well known as Coca-Cola. Costs have soared, and new drugs have been widely prescribed, often off label, leading to polypharmacy, …