It's all about the money (Score 1)

I had this same discussion with my doctor. I asked him why physicians go along with their patients requests for advertised medicines. He said that when patients ask for particular medicines, doctors are loathe to refuse the patients requests for those advertised medicines because doctors would lose patients (the patients would shop for another doctor who would prescribe the medicine). So, again, it's all about the money (as usual).

By any sensible notion, the drug ads should be banned. However, some time ago, our fearless leaders in the U.S.A. made it legal to advertise almost any medicine (whether or not the medicine has the health properties that are advertised). The drug companies lobbists are very influencial - not to mention the media folks - and both would would lose money if those advertisements for drugs were not allowed.

So the right thing to do will not happen (again).