Letter to the Editor:

The June 27 article "In the world of drug ads, there's a pill for every ill" notes that direct-to-consumer ad spending quadrupled between 1996 and 2003, an increase of about one-fifth annually. However, it was effectively illegal until August 1997 so it is not surprising that drug makers rapidly took advantage of their new freedom of speech.

The article also notes that research and development spending also increased during the period. The appropriate conclusion is that such advertising motivates higher research and development spending. If it's illegal to tell anyone about your new invention, there's less reason to invent it in the first place.

As for drug advertising misleading patients about risk, let's remember that cars are also potentially dangerous, but their ads focus on the joy of driving rather than horrific accidents.

John R. Graham
Director, Health Care Studies
Pacific Research Institute
755 Sansome Street, Suite 450
San Francisco, CA 94111