From the Bulletin of Health Policy & Law: Teaching Medical Students Risks of Direct-to-Consumer Medical Marketing Using Problem Based Learning

http://www.bullhpl.org/resources/Publications/LovettetalCommentaryBHPL.pdf

Teaching Medical Students Risks of Direct-to-Consumer Medical Marketing Using Problem Based Learning 

Kimberly M. Lovett, MD, Andres F. Sciolla, MD, Sean Evans, MD

The DTC medical marketplace is a rapidly evolving and expanding forum for consumers and patients to purchase medical testing and pharmaceuticals peripheral to physician guidance and care. There are several risks posed by this industry and there may be potential advantages. It is clear that this industry will impact the way we practice medicine moving forward. Thus, it is vitally important that practicing and future physicians

are aware that this industry exists and how it might potentially impact patient care, patient safety, and the patient-physician relationship. The PBL forum appears to be an excellent medium to introduce these concepts to preclinical medical students, and allow them to explore the vast implications. The earlier medical students are educated, the more prepared they will be to respond to patient requests and issues related to this DTC
medical marketplace beginning in their clinical years. Furthermore, educating medical students now can potentially facilitate the education of their attending and resident physicians in the future.