TV Shouldn't drive Health Choices

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=694388

If you watch any TV today, you'll soon realize from the commercials that everyone needs a lot of health care.

A current TV commercial shows a little girl with a cut on her finger, a mom bending solicitously over the girl. Voiceover: "When my daughter got a cut recently, I thought I could just wash it. But then it got red, and my doctor thought it might be infected, so we went to the emergency room right away. That's the last time I'll let a cut go."

(snip)

Other commercials tout using drugs for new "conditions" the drug companies probably invented so they can sell pills. People want the drug, visit the doctor and get a prescription. Health costs rise.

(snip)

As long as we buy into the advertising about how to treat our aches and pains, health costs cannot help but go up. People are neglecting the one area that contributes to health care cost increases: people's gullibility when it comes to advertising.

Great article.

[boobooday]

1. They are basically selling disease

and paranoia.

But I don't think that ending advertising would do much to address the problems in our health care system. I can't afford health care for the disease I already have, let alone anything I see advertised.

And it reminds me of the Republican meme, about how if we think health care is free, we'll gobble it up unnecessarily.

What? A colonoscopy is free? Free root canal? I'll take two!

[blondie58]

2. and that is a big incentive

for them NOT to have a cure found for any affliction. The drug companies would lose way too much money, if we didn't need it.:sarcasm:

[boobooday]

3. Oh you got that right

I think about it every day. I realized, as an insulin-dependent diabetic, that Eli Lilly and others would be devestated if people like me were cured. The stem-cell debate made me realize -- diabetics, Parkinson's patients, Alzheimer's patients -- all of us represent dependable sources of revenue. What would happen to Eli Lilly if all diabetics were cured tomorrow?

They would go out of business. Our good health would threaten their income.

The for-profit medical system is unbelievably immoral.

[raccoon]

4. Not only that, the morans make normal life events into "illnesses." such as menopause. nt

[blondie58]

7. yeah- and things like social anxiety disorder??!

I think that everyone suffers from it at some time, but you learn coping skills- you don't need a stinking drug.

[blondie58]

6. yeah, my drug for MS costs without insurance

something along the line of $1,400 per month. But, as I have insurance, being a postal worker, my co-pay to stick myself 3x weekly is only $50 per month. Geez- but I am going to explore some other options with eating healthy and perhaps some accupuncture.

[0007]

5. "Ask your doctor" Send for our 'free information kit'

"Why you should worry about the common cold"

"These items are NOT sold in local stores, so contact us TODAY"

If its not the pharmaceutical companies mugging 'ya, its the Insurance Companies .... Which is worse?? They both drive me batty.