National pharmacists' association calls for end of direct to consumer advertising

Back in December I reported that the American Medical Association called for a ban on direct to consumer advertising.  Now comes news that the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has also joined the call, arguing that much of of the information provided in consumer advertising is misleading and contributes to the overuse of pharmaceutical drugs.  Go here for more information.

I have long held the same position, but I think it is naive to expect the FDA to go back to the day when direct to consumer advertising was banned.  The United States is one of only three countries in the world that allow direct to consumer ads for prescription drugs.  (New Zeland and Brazil are the other two.)