The debate on whether Prescription drug advertising is ethical has been a long time
controversy, but most people can agree that they are fed up with drug
commercials. Advertising directly to consumers is very inappropriate, in my opinion,
considering the dangerous side effects briefly mentioned towards the end of an advertisement
or in fine print. Cable TV is constantly pushing drugs with seriously questionable side effects; so
it may be no surprise that we have become a drug dependent nation. In the past, the only
drugs advertised on television were nonprescription products anyone could buy, and few
people objected to these commercials. However, powerful prescription medicines for serious
or life-threatening diseases are routinely thrown at us and people are encouraged to ask their
doctor if the drug is right for them or a loved one. As much as these ads may annoy us, we
continue to see more and more drug ads on TV due to the immense power and wealth of the
