Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6710

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

Rhein RW.
Law enforcement and the Internet superhighwaymen
Scrip Magazine 1996 Dec; (52):18-20, 22
www.pjbpubs.co.uk/scrip/scrhome.html

Abstract:

The Food and Drug Administration sponsored a meeting attended by several hundred representatives of diverse groups to discuss the issues related to promotion over the Internet. Panels chosen from those attending the meeting were asked to focus on how to apply the current law to the situation. One of the problems with Internet promotion is that people may not realize that they are looking at an ad. The FDA maintains that it has no authority to stop consumers from seeking information about unapproved drugs or uses but it can legally prevent companies from giving such information to them. The FDA was interested in companies’ links to journal articles containing information on unapproved uses and whether companies could, or should, control the Internet forums they sponsor. The FDA also wanted to know how a company could tailor its promotional material so that it has fair balance for every audience. A major point of interest was whether a company’s identification as the provider of information should be required on every web page. The last issue discussed was international issues related to Internet promotion as different countries have different regulations about direct-to-consumer advertising, comparative advertising, etc. How can the information banned in one country be kept off an Internet site located in another country?

Keywords:
*analysis/United States/Food and Drug Administration/Internet/ unlabeled indication/ direct-to-consumer advertising/ DTCA/ fair balance(brief summary)/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: CONSUMERS/PATIENTS/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: INDUSTRY/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING/PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: INTERNET ADVERTISING