Senate Bill 1189 by Senator Dawn Buckingham continues to move through the legislative process. SB 1189 would require advertisements to properly warn patients that it is dangerous to stop taking a prescribed medication before consulting with a physician.
Many proponents of the bill argue some lawyer ads can “unnecessarily” scare people to the point that they stop taking their essential medications.
These ads, “suggest severe side effects, but do not discuss the actual level of risk of having one of these complications. They emphasize the risk and ignore the benefits. Without this very important information, consumers cannot compare the life-saving or life-improving benefits that these medicines offer compared to the relatively low risk,” said Dr. Christine Canterbury, a board member of the Bay Area Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse in Corpus Christi. “Patient adherence is critical to ensuring that medical and prescription treatments work effectively. Without direction from a doctor, patients may be putting their health at serious risk.”
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse of Central Texas continues to support SB 1189 and the need for advertisements to properly warn patients that it is dangerous to stop taking a prescribed medication before consulting with a physician.
