Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15817

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Publication type: news

Charter challenge to drug advertising rules by CanWest delayed until the fall
The Canadian Press 2009 Jun 13
http://www.breitbart.com/print.php?id=cp_h0ubfnps39&show_article=1&catnum=4

Full text:

A court challenge of federal drug advertising rules by CanWest Global Communications (TSX:CGS) that was to be heard next week has been delayed until the fall, the company said Friday.
“Everybody just agreed that it was probably better to wait until after the summer to argue it, intervenors and government all consented to it,” CanWest spokesman John Douglas said.
“For us from a business perspective, the timing is better for us as well.”
CanWest is working to restructure roughly $4 billion in debt and has said it wants to have a deal in place by mid-July. The company has received several extensions from the noteholders while the company worked on selling assets and renegotiating its debt agreements.
Lawyer Steven Shrybman, who represents a number of groups at the hearing including the Canadian Health Coalition and Women and Health Protection, said a new date has not been set, but the case could be revived with 60-days notice.
“We don’t think the case has any merit,” Shrybman said. “Whatever process they go through now to restructure, we hope they reconsider this ill-conceived litigation and abandon it.”
Direct-to-consumer drug advertising is illegal in most countries around the world, including Canada.
CanWest Global Communications is fighting the ban, saying it violates the right to free expression enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Currently, Health Canada allows drug makers to advertise the name of a drug without stipulating what it is for, or advertise about a medical condition, while urging sufferers to seek medical help. Health Canada does not require cable or satellite TV operators to block drug ads on U.S. channels available to Canadians.