(3 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)In 2015, trial lawyers spent 128 million dollars to air 365,000 ads hawking lawsuits against drugs and medical devices.
But these ads can be harmful to the public health.
According to a recent report submitted to the Food and Drug Administration, at least 30 people suffered strokes, heart attacks and other serious medical problems because they stopped taking the blood thinning drug Xarelto after seeing a lawsuit commercial.
And two people have died.
U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform President Lisa A. Rickard says that a key issue is the lack of oversight on lawsuit ads targeting drugs and medical devices.
“Pharmaceutical ads go through careful FDA scrutiny. Ads for lawsuits against drug makers should as well. Trial lawyers have an obligation to ensure the claims in their ads don’t harm public health.”
Some experts say the FDA – which is charged with protecting the public health and safety – has the authority to intervene in trial lawyer advertising.
But until trial lawyer ads hawking lawsuits against drug and medical devices get more scrutiny, the TV-viewing public should heed the warning: reacting to trial lawyer ad claims before consulting your doctor may be bad for your health.
To learn more, watch the video above or click here.
