Two pieces of legislation have been introduced to safeguard Texans from deceptive “bad drug” advertisements. SB 1189 and HB 2251, would protect patients by requiring advertisements to properly warn patients that it is dangerous to stop taking a prescribed medication before consulting with a physician. The legislation would not limit or ban drug-injury advertisements. It simply would protect vulnerable populations by ensuring they have the information necessary to make the best decisions for their health regarding prescription drug use.
Bay Area Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse board member Dr. Christine Canterbury said of the legislative proposals: “Patient safety depends on truth in advertising when talking about treatment regimens. When advertisements cause patients to doubt the recommendations of their physicians and discontinue use of their prescribed medications, the consequences can be very serious.”
Misleading personal injury advertising can put people’s health at risk. However, there is a way to avoid the consequences of this greedy practice. Remember: Don’t Let a Lawyer Be Your Doctor!
