There were some concerns that prescription drug advertisements can sometimes mislead and that are not always truthful. Sometimes the drug’s effectiveness is put into question and consumers and patients should know about these studies. The balance between the risks and the benefits of a drug shouldn’t be a secret for consumers.

Drug companies use a variety of tactics to emphasize the benefits of a certain drug and to downplay the risks, Ruth Day, head of Duke University's Medical Cognition Laboratory, told lawmakers at a hearing to discuss specific ads by Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co Inc and Schering-Plough Corp. House Democrats criticized these companies’ promotions as potentially misleading consumers.

“I think the main problem with directed consumer ads is they don't give consumers the information they need to make an informed decision about the drug,” said Steven Woloshin, associate professor of medicine and of community and family medicine at Dartmouth Medical School, according to ABC News. “They don't give the most fundamental information, which is how well does the drug work?”

Stupak, head of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce investigative panel emphasized the need to enforce significant restrictions on direct-to-consumer (DTC) ads, as a measure designed to protect consumers from the effects of manipulative commercials. The oversight function of Congress should be to make sure drug companies tell the truth in their advertisements, showing both negative and positive aspects of their products.

Drug companies should spent money not only on ad campaigns, but also on research and development for new drugs.

On the other hand, representatives for the drug industry said the Democrats’ criticism of FDA has a lot to do with politics and less with advertising.