Kasia Mulligan, the national spokesperson for Patients Come First, said in an op-ed that aggressive legal advertising, particularly targeting pharmaceuticals, is leading patients to discontinue essential medications without consulting healthcare providers. This trend poses significant public health risks.
"These ads can also cause harm," said Mulligan. "The goal is to scare people into filing a lawsuit, not to keep people healthy. That's not access to justice, it's a national public health crisis."
According to Mulligan, there are detrimental effects of such advertising on public health. She notes that these advertisements often result in patients discontinuing essential medications without medical consultation, leading to adverse health outcomes. Mulligan added that this issue is especially concerning in underserved communities where access to accurate medical information may already be limited. The Well News reported that these misleading legal ads contribute to a national public health crisis by undermining trust in medical treatments and professionals.
The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) reported that in 2024, approximately $2.5 billion was spent on nearly 27 million legal services advertisements across the United States. This figure represents a significant increase in legal advertising expenditures, surpassing the $1.1 billion spent by pizza restaurants on 4.1 million ads. ATRA's president, Tiger Joyce, expressed concern over trial lawyers inundating various media platforms with aggressive ads that may prioritize profits over consumer health and safety.
A survey conducted by the Michigan State Medical Society revealed that nearly half of the respondents indicated they would definitely or probably stop taking a prescribed medication after viewing a legal advertisement about it. This finding underscores the powerful influence such ads can have on patient behavior, potentially leading to harmful health decisions made without medical consultation. The survey's results highlight the need for greater oversight and regulation of legal advertising related to medical treatments.
In her op-ed, Mulligan serves as the national spokesperson for Patients Come First, a consumer-focused patient advocacy group.
