Healthy Skepticism Library item: 418

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

Vitry A, Mansfield P.
Drug advertisements in medical journals.
Lancet 1997 Nov 15; 350:(9089):1477-8
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Keywords:
*letter to the editor Servier Coversyl BMJ Lancet journal advertisements quality of information attitude toward promotion regulation of promotion Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: MEDICAL JOURNALS EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: JOURNALS AND MASS MEDIA

Notes:

Servier is continuing to run advertisements for Coversyl which are misleading in the Lancet and BMJ. The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Panel in the United Kingdom found that claims in the ad were misleading. Are there commercial agreements between these journals and drug companies that prevent advertising campaigns from being stopped before their term when they are found to be misleading? Medical journals have a responsibility that go beyond rejecting offensive advertising. If the BMJ and Lancet do not want to review drug ads then they should put warnings on each advertisement.