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As disgusting as this story is, freedom of speech isn't a freedom if it magically disappears because a collection of people say it instead of a single person. I
by valuearb 9y ago
As disgusting as this story is, freedom of speech isn't a freedom if it magically disappears because a collection of people say it instead of a single person. I'd much rather have a raucous marketplace of ideas and opinions that let people choose for themselves, over having the government make their medical decisions.
For example, thousands of deaths have been attributed to the tough drug approval requirements in the US. How would you feel if you had a terminal condition and your government didn't allow you to even know of a possible treatment, or the choice of taking the risk that the treatment won't work?
- hn_throwaway_99 9y agoLet's not confuse the issue by taking about freedom of speech, at least without acknowledging that the rules for commercial speech have always been different (and much stricter). I don't really know anyone who thinks "Remember the good old days when cigarette ads were on TV?" (that was a thing). Prescription ads on TV are a relatively recent thing anyway (really 1995 in the US), one in which a powerful lobbying group used their money and influence to help write the rules.
- valuearb 9y agoThe US Constitution does not treat "commercial speech" any differently than personal speech. The US Supreme court did, and it's rulings on the subject are politically biased and clearly wrong (the first made while under threat of court packing by FDR). US Court of Appeals judge Alex Kozinski stated, in regard to the 1942 ruling, "the Supreme Court plucked the commercial speech doctrine out of thin air" Many people remember the good old days when individual rights and limits on the federal government were enforced closer to US Constitutional requirements.
- Spooky23 9y agoHow would you feel if your doctor gave you thalidomide to treat anxiety, and you ended up with a deformed baby as a result, because the raucous marketplace cared more about moving drugs than patient safety?
- valuearb 9y agoHow would you feel if there was a drug that could save your child’s life, but you and your doctor were not allowed to be made aware of it? And since Thalidomide hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from slow drug approvals.
- rhizome 9y agoWhere is this dystopia of forbidden trade advertising to doctors and pharmacists? Advertising for drugs seeks to mediate the doctor's expertise and knowledge. "Hey what does it hurt if people have information?" It's not the information, it's putting in the hands of unqualified people in an area where qualified people are the best judges. I'm not limiting this to Western MDs or anything like that, there's just really no use in patients asking about xeljanz or whatever it's called. If anything, it causes ailments by suggestion. Not hypochondria per se, but something, and induced. Beyond this, I'm too lazy right now to look up drug company kickbacks to prescribing doctors, and I'm sure there's plenty, but it would probably still occur even if mass media advertising was banned.
- true_tuna 9y agoDeliberate deception is not protected speech. These people deliberately lied and created the most lethal epidemic of drug abuse in our country’s history. Don’t defend their right to do it. You cheapen the notion of free speech when you do.
- valuearb 9y agoFraud is not protected speech. If these people committed fraud they should be prosecuted. But outside that, stop interfering in my right to hear what they have to say.
- shakna 9y ago> stop interfering in my right to hear what they have to say. You still have every right to go to them and ask what they have to say.