AMA refuses to back a ban on drug ads

Some doctors have complained that “Ask your doctor about …” ads lead patients to seek risky drugs they don’t need and interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.

But others said a ban would violate drug makers’ free-speech rights and argued that ads have helped increase awareness of certain ailments and reduced the stigma of mental illness and other disorders.

Policy-making delegates at the AMA’s annual meeting voted without debate to refer the measures for further study on the advice of a committee that said such a ban could run afoul of the First Amendment.

Various AMA factions have tried for years to get the nation’s largest doctors group to take a strong stand against direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs.

Supporters thought they had a good chance of succeeding this year because of recent concerns about the heart risks of arthritis drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex, and suspicions that Prozac and related antidepressants can lead to suicidal impulses in youngsters.

Also Tuesday, the AMA adopted a report declaring that these antidepressants have benefits and should remain available to youngsters who need them.

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On the Net:

AMA: http://www.ama-assn.org