On the other hand, I hate the general attitude of "don't question your doctor or do your own medical research; the doctor knows what's best"
Doctors are mortals too and can only have so much time to draw on info they crammed X years ago. Patients can quickly become more expert than GPs with regards to their own diseases, especially if they have months to research it.
Anecdotal example - my sister had a wierd skin condition in high school. My mom researched skin images and symptoms for hours and hours and concluded it was shingles. My Mom then brought her in and discussed her findings with the GP who scoffed and said she was far too young for it to be shingles. He then admonished my mom for doing her own research. Long story short and one embarrassed GP later, it was shingles.
But medical advertising doesn’t inform the patient. Often it misleads. It has no value. Having medical information in public would be good so people can learn themselves but advertising provides no value.
I'm a trans woman. It's widely acknowledged in the trans community that most of us have to teach our doctors what meds to prescribe, what starting doses are common, and how to interpret lab results to determine how to titrate the dosage. Most of us have read the Encdocrine Society's clinical guidelines for HRT cover to cover, because we have to be the experts. And half the time, it turns into a fight. At one point, I had to print out relevant sections from the Endocrine Society's guidelines and use a highlighter on key parts just to demonstrate that my dose needs to be upped, to a level that's still regarded as safe, because my levels were way too low. I was so happy when I switched to a better doctor a couple of years later.
And a lot of us end up ordering our meds from gray-market online pharmacies anyway and paying for our own blood tests (usually via Private MD Labs).
> Patients can quickly become more expert than GPs with regards to their own diseases, especially if they have months to research it.
Waking into a 15 minute appointment with months worth of research seems like a bad way to approach collaboration with healthcare professionals. Or do people still have personal relationships with doctors outside the appointment window?
It seems like GPs have become dispensers of medicine rather than care.
>Patients can quickly become more expert than GPs with regards to their own diseases, especially if they have months to research it.
A couple of years ago my GI specialist put me on a medicine that had just been approved that was designed for my type of gut issues. We spent a lot of time talking about what we hoped to see, and he spent a lot of time listening to what my experience actually was. This has continued ever since, and he always spends a lot of time listening, because I am one of his few patients that takes that medicine. This patient / doctor feedback loop is incredibly important!
>Doctors are mortals too and can only have so much time to draw on info they crammed X years ago.
First, doctors are expected and generally pursue continuing education. As much as the "golfing at an exotic locale during a medical conference" is a meme, many of those conference also educate doctors on new therapies.
Second, let's not pretend that the drug conpany reps don't get as damn close to bribery as possible to get their medications in front of doctors and in hospitals
I have a lot of serious long term health issues and quickly found out you have to be the champion for your own health and research everything. But that doesn't mean just asking for the latest drug in the market. Its about asking the right questions. Unless you have a common well understood health issues, you will quickly reach a roadblock.
don't forget ED drugs! america: take all the dick pills you want through a shady phone app (sponsored by VCs) but don't expect to have have your life threatening illnesses treated affordably!
edit: i'm getting downvoted. in case you weren't aware the subways in NY are plastered with HIMS and Roman health ads.
I know a couple of doctors overseas and while there isn’t direct to consumer advertising for Rx drugs, the doctors get invited by the pharmas to conferences in the Greek islands or the Adriatic, sometimes they are invited to “talk”. They can bring their spouses too... in addition I think they get kickbacks for Rxs -but I’m not sure.
Is it really such an odd question? Putting advertising outside, it seems to me that it would be a common occurrence that someone dealing with problem X has probably spoken to other people with the same issue, and what the group knows works well would be spread around. In my case, I'm asthmatic, and I know very well what works best for me, simply because I've had decades of experience figuring it out. When I've gone to see a new doctor, I've been specific in my medicine requests, and it has been received well enough.
That's why we (the Dutch) have pharmacies that take the prescription of the doctor and then determine, based on your current medicine and medical history, alter your new prescription to fit your need (and he will confer with the GP if needed)
Sure, but neither is the guy who asks for a new drug based on the 30 second ad he just saw.
If I go to my doctor and say "hey, for my condition XYZ I hear there's a new drug ABC, would that offer any benefits over what I'm on now?" that's one thing, but if I go in and say "hey give me that ABC" they'll correctly roll their eyes at me.
umvi|6 years ago
Doctors are mortals too and can only have so much time to draw on info they crammed X years ago. Patients can quickly become more expert than GPs with regards to their own diseases, especially if they have months to research it.
Anecdotal example - my sister had a wierd skin condition in high school. My mom researched skin images and symptoms for hours and hours and concluded it was shingles. My Mom then brought her in and discussed her findings with the GP who scoffed and said she was far too young for it to be shingles. He then admonished my mom for doing her own research. Long story short and one embarrassed GP later, it was shingles.
Ididntdothis|6 years ago
amyjess|6 years ago
And a lot of us end up ordering our meds from gray-market online pharmacies anyway and paying for our own blood tests (usually via Private MD Labs).
intopieces|6 years ago
Waking into a 15 minute appointment with months worth of research seems like a bad way to approach collaboration with healthcare professionals. Or do people still have personal relationships with doctors outside the appointment window?
It seems like GPs have become dispensers of medicine rather than care.
Baeocystin|6 years ago
A couple of years ago my GI specialist put me on a medicine that had just been approved that was designed for my type of gut issues. We spent a lot of time talking about what we hoped to see, and he spent a lot of time listening to what my experience actually was. This has continued ever since, and he always spends a lot of time listening, because I am one of his few patients that takes that medicine. This patient / doctor feedback loop is incredibly important!
AnIdiotOnTheNet|6 years ago
ohithereyou|6 years ago
First, doctors are expected and generally pursue continuing education. As much as the "golfing at an exotic locale during a medical conference" is a meme, many of those conference also educate doctors on new therapies.
Second, let's not pretend that the drug conpany reps don't get as damn close to bribery as possible to get their medications in front of doctors and in hospitals
vonmoltke|6 years ago
Those ads are a small portion of pharma marketing budgets for prescription products. The vast majority goes to direct-to-doctor marketing.
redisman|6 years ago
programmertote|6 years ago
Given that experience, I'd not be surprised if pharma spend a ton of money on direct-to-doctor marketing.
pkaye|6 years ago
GordonS|6 years ago
Pharma TV and billboard ads are the last place I'd seek such information though.
m_ke|6 years ago
throwlaplace|6 years ago
edit: i'm getting downvoted. in case you weren't aware the subways in NY are plastered with HIMS and Roman health ads.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ne5ndb/erectile-dysfuncti...
mc32|6 years ago
Not sure which one is better or worse.
Baeocystin|6 years ago
mattrp|6 years ago
Murrawhip|6 years ago
jotm|6 years ago
He shouldn't. They're not all knowing super genius specialists who keep up with all the drugs and research.
ivolimmen|6 years ago
patmcc|6 years ago
If I go to my doctor and say "hey, for my condition XYZ I hear there's a new drug ABC, would that offer any benefits over what I'm on now?" that's one thing, but if I go in and say "hey give me that ABC" they'll correctly roll their eyes at me.