A team of medical researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. has found that a high percentage of doctors posting endorsements regarding drugs on the social media site X were paid to do so by the makers of the drugs.
  • Obinice@lemmy.world
    121·
    5 months ago

    Why would a doctor publicly endorse drugs at all? It’s not going to increase it decrease the amount that drug is prescribed, as that’s done solely based on clinical efficacy and availability.

    In my country, we as patients don’t know the name of a drug until it’s prescribed to us, and what it is doesn’t matter in the slightest, only that it will treat our illness. Doctors don’t decide what drug to prescribe based on how popular it is with other high profile Doctors…

    It’s not like picking out what brand of toothpaste you’re going to use. Advertising doesn’t factor in whatsoever. This is the healthcare service, not a business.

    • dogsoahC@lemm.ee
      4·
      5 months ago

      Not all drugs are prescription drugs. And I’d bet that you could ask your doctor for a specific one, at least in some places. And, last but not least, I’m sure doctors follow such influencers as well, which makes them targets for ads too.