Vermont Senate wants to limit 'beautiful' prescription drug ads

Some Vermont lawmakers are calling for a moratorium on prescription drug advertising, as well as other steps they say would help to lower drug costs.

The state Senate signaled approval Tuesday for a non-binding resolution that asks the Food and Drug Administration to "institute a moratorium on the promotion of prescription drugs directly to consumers" while crafting more effective advertising rules.

The resolution also asks Vermont's congressional delegation to introduce bills to restrict "huge" promotional spending by pharmaceutical companies.

"Those advertisements are pictures of beautiful landscapes and people having a great time," said Sen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden, speaking on the Senate floor, "and yet the side effects are discussed — might cause liver cancer or death — and those are minimized by the perception of the beautiful landscape that we’re seeing."

Read more: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/28/vermont-senate-resolution-limit-beautiful-prescription-drug-ads/98522066/