Join me with pharmacist, Michael Shuman, PharmD, for our next series on DTCA and Marketing of Healthcare. DTCA stands for Direct-To-Consumer-Advertising, of medications and diagnoses, to the American public. Our stance is this has had a tremendously negative impact on the quality of American healthcare, and has likely contributed to falling life expectancy and polypharmacy, or being on too many medications. This episode is a monologue by me, outlining the 11-part series.
[00:00:00] Welcome to Renegade psych. A nuance podcast dedicated to informing the American public. About the flagrant shortcomings of our healthcare system. I'm a board certified psychiatrist. And along with my guests break down interesting and important topics into several segments to appeal to both the general public, as well as medical and psychiatric students, residents and practitioners. My primary motivations are to appreciate nuance in major medical and psychiatric discussions. Educate listeners on the undo and widespread influence of big business in healthcare. And provide accurate and reliable information on relevant mental and medical health topics. While I'm still young and have a lot to learn in my career. I cannot continue to stand idly by while so many in my field repeatedly fall victim to pharmaceutical interests. Uh, misinformation. And [00:01:00] manipulation of existing data at the expense of Americans health. Whether you struggle with your mental health. Work in behavioral health or the health care system. Or want to better understand our healthcare systems over promise and under deliver status quo. My guests and I hope to provide public education. On some of the most pertinent under reported and controversial. Uh, Issues in psychiatry mental health In healthcare in general
disclaimer, this podcast is for informational purposes. Only the information provided in this podcast and related materials are meant only to educate this information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. While I am a medical doctor and many of my guests have extensive medical training and experience. Nothing stated in this podcast nor materials related to this podcast. Uh, including recommended websites, techs, graphics, images, or any other [00:02:00] materials. Should be treated as a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis or treatment. All listeners should consult with a medical professional, licensed mental health provider or other healthcare provider. If seeking medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. . .
.. Somebody get this guy some help.
. How often do you see or hear a prescription drug advertisement? In the last month, the last week, the last 24 hours. The last hour. What if I told you direct advertising to patients or consumers is illegal in all but two countries in the world, [00:03:00] the United States and New Zealand. Does it seem odd to you that we market pharmaceutical drugs on TV rather than rely on your doctors and providers to help you make informed healthcare decisions? How factual do you believe these advertisements are? Or do you wonder if they're presented in a way to encourage you to seek more information from your doctor or prescriber about a given treatment
is healthcare something that should be sold to you or is healthcare something that should be dictated by those who provide it? Who have spent years, many times decades, training and getting experience with what medications or treatments work? What medications and treatments are safe, and what medications and treatments are potentially dangerous? Do these ads ever cause confusion? Would you seek out a medication or a treatment based on an advertisement you saw on TV or other media?
[00:04:00] Today we're talking about marketing and healthcare, and specifically reviewing the historical course of D T C A or direct to consumer advertising. We're gonna talk about the dangers and negative impacts of D T C A. In general marketing of drugs on the American healthcare system. We'll review the history of advertising in healthcare, talk about some historical medical mishaps that led to major healthcare policy reforms, and discuss the ever-changing landscape of patient versus physician autonomy in making healthcare decisions. We'll talk about the marketing campaigns of several, well known some discontinued medications, including Viox, some antidepressants, Seroquel, and the monoclonal antibodies FDA approved for Alzheimer's disease in the last few years. We'll also talk about the impact of industry and advertising on research as well as the FDA approval [00:05:00] process, and wrap up with some hopeful solutions for the future.
As of 2021, the total expenditure on direct to consumer advertising by pharmaceutical companies. Was nearly $7 billion. Our stance on marketing and direct to consumer advertising is that it has had a dramatic and negative influence on our overall health outcomes in America. Since the flood gates opened in the mid 1990s, we've seen several catastrophic pharmaceutical marketing campaigns. That have led to millions of patients suffering serious. And many times fatal consequences. Due to the industry's tunnel vision focused on profit. While we understand many of these people are simply trying to do their jobs as well as they can. They have different primary outcome measures than we healthcare workers do. It's imperative for us to bring light to the corruption. And aspects of the system that [00:06:00] lead to poor patient care. And poor outcomes. The lack of separation between the governmental regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry. Continues to negatively affect American's health outcomes. Healthcare workers must take back control of our industry . .
.. Somebody get this guy some help.
Thanks for listening. If you're passionate about what we're trying to do, hit that subscribe button and If you wanna donate follow the link in the show notes.