Prof. Hall in MN Daily on Prescription Drug Website Regulation

Professor Ralph Hall was quoted in the Minnesota Daily regarding the findings of a recent study that examined 100 best-selling prescription drug websites. The study found lack of consistency in advertising standards on these sites and pointed to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for under-regulation. Hall disagrees, saying that the FDA has substantial enforcement authority including the ability to bring criminal actions against violators. Historically, drug information has been written for physicians and medically-trained professionals so the language can be confusing for consumers, Hall says. In addition, he points out that the FDA approves drug use, not the drug itself. Often physicians post information online describing a drug for a secondary use and this information does not fall within the FDA-approval process. Trying to regulate that information would be a challenge to the First Amendment, he says.