Before I get to the proposition , let me tell you what happened to me. I’m watching an event on the idiot box when a series of commercials come on. It’s “Live” tv so I can’t fast forward through the ads. A commercial comes on that attracts my attention. It’s a prescription drug ad. It briefly explains why you didn’t ask for the disease, but here’s the remedy. Ah, medical science!
About twenty-five seconds into the advertisement the announcer lists a series of warning and disclaimers. While I admit not remembering what the malady is, the disclaimers instantly have me shouting, “who’d want to take that?”
There are many medical miracles marketed with the billions of advertising dollars Big Pharma spends each year on television and radio commercials. My station daily airs quite of few of these ads. Hooray for Big Pharma coming up with the remedy. This is not a rant against them, their scientists or the dollars being spent to convince us to take whatever. It is a deep dive down the rabbit hole of disclaimers.
Anyway, let me get to the proposition.
I eventually find out the perplexing commercial is for the prescription drug, Ocrevus. It apparently relieves multiple sclerosis [MS]. Admittedly, I know left of little about MS, except that it has a way of attacking a person’s central nervous system. A few friends/associates have contracted MS. We’ve never discussed. My surface knowledge of MS is like that of many debilitating diseases and ailments, I know enough not to want to get it.
While I feel for those afflicted with MS, the disclaimers and warning are equally if not more troubling. Listen closely particularly around the forty-four second mark of the ad.
Cancer and breast cancer. Who wants to risk getting any kind of cancer? My dad, uncle and many other family members and friends have died from cancer. Fortunately, medical science has helped other friends get into remission. Ocrevus. No freckin’ way, I say! If I could take an anti cancer pill, gulp!
The news personality in me intercedes. A person suffering the pain and agony of MS, may view taking Ocrevus, twice a year, as a life saver. My ears ring as an MS sufferer chimes “Any kind of relief from this suffering is well worth it.” I can’t speak for any person with MS. I don’t walk in her/his shoes.
My real comment. Medical miracles can be a very scary proposition.
Most people have seen these types of RX commercials. Would you risk the possibility of getting cancer for relief from any other debilitating illness?
Author Profile
- Brian is a five decade real radio veteran and the founder of Brian’s Beat, the media company that produces the Brian’s Beat Talk Show, commentaries, several podcast stories, along with Brian’s Beat On The Street.
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