Consumer group questions online medical device ads

By MATTHEW PERRONE

The Associated Press 

Dec. 3, 2008

WASHINGTON — A consumer watchdog group on Wednesday questioned the legality of several advertisements for medical devices that appear on YouTube and called on regulators to crack down on the promotions.

Online videos from Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic Inc. and Stryker Corp. tout the benefits of their devices, but do not mention the risks, according to the Boston-based nonprofit group, Prescription Project.

The Food and Drug Administration requires television advertisements for drugs and medical devices to give a balanced picture of benefits and risks; however, it's unclear whether that law also applies to Internet promotions, the group says.

"The videos raise serious questions about whether drug and device companies are using the Internet to skirt laws that safeguard consumers," said Allan Coukell, director of policy for the Prescription Project.

In a petition submitted to the FDA, the group asks regulators to order the companies to remove the advertisements from the Web. The group also asks the agency to issue regulations specifying that online ads are subject to the same standards as television ads.

Among the ads cited in the petition are an advertisement for Medtronic's artificial spine disk, Prestige.