Government Finds Fault with FDA
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report that finds fault with the FDA for its oversight (or lack thereof) of the drug industry's Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) advertising. DTC advertising was authorized by Congress in 1997 and gave drug companies the ability to market directly to the public, resulting in a barrage of television, online, and magazine ads. And it works. Consumers see the ads, and ask their doctors for the drugs by name. Critics point out that DTC advertising creates a huge consumer demand for expensive, name-brand drugs, even though less expensive drugs may work just as well.
