Constitution Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Attorney Advertising

Washington, D.C. -- On Friday, June 23, 2017, at 9:00 a.m., the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice will hold a hearing titled, “Examining Ethical Responsibilities Regarding Attorney Advertising,” to examine misleading and even dangerous attorney advertisements regarding lawsuits centered around pharmaceuticals. In a recent report, the American Medical Association (AMA) found that patients were more likely to discontinue the use of prescribed FDA-approved pharmaceuticals after seeing television advertisements that “emphasize side effects while ignoring the benefits or the fact that the medication is FDA approved.” The AMA believes that such advertisements are “designed to frighten patients” and “jeopardize patient care.” The witnesses for Friday’s hearing will be:

• Dr. Ilana Kutinsky, Director of Atrial Fibrillation Services, William Beaumont Hospital Troy
• Dr. Shawn H. Fleming, Vascular Surgeon, Novant Health Vascular Specialists
• Lynda C. Shely, Partner, The Shely Firm
• Elizabeth Tippett, Assistant Professor, University of Oregon School of Law

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee Chairman Steve King (R-Iowa) released the following statement prior to the hearing: “Recent reports indicating that patients are more likely to follow ‘medical advice’ from television advertisements are extremely troubling.  Friday’s hearing will be an opportunity to hear from expert witnesses on better practices that should be implemented to discourage those attorneys who utilize scare tactics to drum up business at the expense of patient safety.” The hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at /. Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.