Pharmaceutical companies are heavily regulated in the manner in which they can advertise to consumers. And for good reason – drugs be highly effective in addressing medical conditions, but also potential dangerous when used improperly or interacting with other medications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing submissions from the pharmaceutical industry about the use of social media, and is expected to release new rules by the end of the year.
The role of social media in educating the public is something that should not be underestimated. Eric Ruth of the Delaware Online said,
On both sides, there’s little dispute that social media could prove to be an enormously positive force in wellness, whether it’s in helping patients cope with a disease or alerting them to potential dangers. But that’s where the views quickly begin to diverge.
Jim Edwards of BNet provides a summary of the main submissions made by major pharmaceutical companies, and the entire submissions can be seen here, including a 500-pg transcript from a public hearing on Nov. 15, 2009. Most of the drug companies are requesting that they not be held liable for content they do not control.