YouTube Ads Missing Drug and Medical Device Warnings

December 2008

Most people are familiar with the warnings that come at the end of drug and medical device commercials. This is because manufacturers are required to list the risks and benefits of their products on television. It is not clear whether or not the same rules apply to YouTube, however, and one consumer group is worried about the dangers that this poses.

The group, Prescription Project, says that it is concerned that medicine and device makers are using the internet to avoid the television regulations that protect consumers. Because there are no definite rules for internet medical product advertising, many ads that appear on sites like YouTube do not feature any warnings. Prescription Project has given a petition to the Food and Drug Administration, requesting that six such ads be removed.

The ads in question are on Prescription Project’s web site. The group has also asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into the issue.