Healthy Skepticism Library item: 20132

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: Magazine

Rankin P
Offensive to GPs
Australian Doctor 1999 Mar 1926

Full text:

Editor – The marketing gurus have struck again. I refer to the mass media campaign “acne can be cured” which contains the message “ask your doctor about seeing a skin specialist”.

I agree with the general thrust of the campaign that attempts to dispel the myths surrounding acne.

However, this ad campaign itself perpetuates the myth that GPs are little more than useless appendages attached to referral pads.

Every GP whom I have asked is deeply offended by the suggestion they are incapable of treating the 80% of the population that at some stage of their life will get acne.

Only a minority needs Roaccutane, and I am sure that our overworked dermatological colleagues do not want to be inundated by mildly spotty teenagers.

I plan to boycott Roche products until they modify or withdraw this kind of advertising.