New study finds many direct to consumer advertising of prescription drugs are misleading. Is anyone surprised?

A new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine prepared by researchers from the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy found that six out of every ten direct-to-consumer drug advertisements shown on television provide false or misleading information.  The ads omitted or exaggerated important information, provided opinions or made meaningless associations with lifestyles.  Go here and here for more details.  In my opinion, this is hardly surprising.  Ever since the beginning of DTC advertising it was clear the intent was the same as with all other advertising: to get people to buy something, not to provide public service announcements.