Historically the drug industry

[akhp77]

Source: MGMAT CAT

Historically, the drug industry promoted its products to physicians by educating them in their offices or at industry conferences. In the last 10 years, it has become much more commonplace for drug companies to advertise prescription drugs directly to consumers, via television advertising and other media. Some public health advocates have become concerned that patients, encouraged by advertising, may pursue the use of prescription drugs that may be inappropriate for the individual patient or situation. However, since physicians must prescribe these medications, there is no reason for such concern.

Which of the following pieces of information would be most helpful in addressing the concern articulated by the public health advocates?

A: Certain over-the-counter medications are as effective for many common medical conditions as more powerful nonprescription medications.
B: Prescription medication television advertisements directed at the general public only appear on certain programs and are not seen by many potential consumers.
C: Physicians are also subject to prescription drug advertisements that are directed toward consumers.
D: Physicians are not susceptible to pressure from patients in determining appropriate courses of treatment, including drug prescriptions.
E: Prescription medicines have been proven to be safe and effective treatments for many patient conditions.

OA: D

I did not understand what D is saying.

I understood till these points
Physicians can be pressurised by consumers => public health advocates concern gets strengthened
It means that consumers have to come to Physicians for prescription.


Physicians cannot be pressurised by consumers => public health advocates concern gets weakened

[RonPurewal]

the problem described in the argument is the potential for bad decisions by consumers to whom the drugs are marketed.

the argument states that this concern is ultimately not an issue, because the prescriptions must still be written by a physician. the operative assumption, then, is that physicians will still make completely objective decisions, in no way (either directly or indirectly) influenced by the advertisements marketed to consumers.

therefore, if there is evidence that physicians' prescribing decisions will be somehow impacted by this advertising, the argument will be weakened. on the other hand, if there is evidence that the doctors will make the same decisions regardless of the advertisements, the argument is strengthened.

the correct answer is the only one to deal with the issue of whether the effect of marketing on consumers will trickle down and have a secondary effect on the physicians themselves.