Should pharmaceutical companies be allowed to advertise on TV?!

Should pharmaceutical companies be allowed to advertise on TV?

Shouldn't it be up to doctors to diagnose problems and offer medications as a solution. Sometimes the commercials don't even tell you what the drug does and just say "Ask your doctor".

I have often wondered if these companies are encouraging people to take more medications. I find it especially disturbing because I sell health insurance and I see many of my clients on 8 or more medications at the same time. I wonder if that much medicine isn't really hurting them in the long run.

I totally agree. I worked for a primary care physician. When the drug reps would come, they let us pick out food from any restaurant in town, sometimes spending $200+ on our meals. She or he would then sit down with the doc and talk about how wonderful their product was and give free samples for the patients. within the same week, the doc was prescribing these drugs to the patients. The whole waiting area and bathroom were one big advertisement for drugs!!