In the end, I believe these ads are a colossal waste and do nothing to improve the overall health of the country. If the drug companies wanted to do that, they would just run ads telling us to stop smoking, stop overeating, exercise regularly, and buckle our seatbelts.

We are a free society, yet even in a free society there are reasonable controls that work for the common good. This is why, for example, prostitution is illegal (if you don’t count certain expert witnesses and certain holders of emergency medicine contracts). These ads do nothing for the common good and probably contribute to the obscene cost of health care in this country.

This was less important when most people took responsibility for their own health care insurance. Now that the government has inserted itself and the taxpayer is on the hook, it’s a big deal.

Be Happy.

Author’s Note: Since I will not be writing for the new publication, this will be my last essay. It has been my great pleasure and privilege to write for you. You, the men and women who work in the arena and care for the nation’s emergencies at every hour, are my heroes. Best wishes to you and thank you for reading.

Dr. Baehren lives in Ottawa Hills, Ohio. He practices emergency medicine at Wood County Hospital. Your feedback is welcome at DBaehren@premierdocs.com.