Healthy Skepticism Library item: 572

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

Christo GG, Balasubramaniam R.
Commentary: advertising adversities.
BMJ 1997 Aug 23; 315:(7106):460
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/315/7106/460

Keywords:
*analysis India developing countries BMJ journal advertisements quality of information scientific publications ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: MEDICAL JOURNALS EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: JOURNALS AND MASS MEDIA

Notes:

In 1994 all existing advertisers in the Indian edition of the BMJ were sent a checklist against which all future advertisements would be screened. Advertisements were subsequently screened and either rejected, sent back for modification or accepted. Six advertisers out of 45 stopped sending advertisements. The experience has lead the authors to conclude that, when not monitored, companies, even respected multinationals, will stretch the limits of scientific credibility when making claims about the efficacy of their drugs. Most of the time these companies can be persuaded to bring their advertisements within the confines of scientific propriety.