[tomohelix]

Who else should they advertise to then? The consumers aren't knowledgeable enough to make the decision on which drug they should take. Doctors are the only one qualified.

In fact, it is morally worse to advertise and influence people who don't know any better. At least, doctors are educated and it is their duty, both ethically and professionally, to learn about new drugs that best treat their patients. That is the whole point of a Medical Science Liaison. They are the "advertisers" for a pharma to make sure doctors know about the drug their companies make.

Mind you, at this level, advertising is a bit different. These MSLs are legally required to disclose both the indicators and the side effects and have strict rules in what they are allowed to give and say to doctors. There are hundreds of laws in place to prevent corruption/bribery. Of course there are bad actors everywhere, but at least, it is more regulated than Congress's "lobbying" and Supreme Court's "gifts".

[FireBeyond]

The US and NZ are the only two countries in the world that allow direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medications - and New Zealand is trying to get rid of it (and only allowed it following pressure from the US for a trade agreement).