California Bill Targets Lawyers’ Scary, Misleading Drug Ads

Attorneys who engage in “materially misleading” advertising of legal services involving approved medical devices and prescription drugs would violate California consumer law under a bill in the state Legislature.

The California bill is the latest in a U.S. Chamber of Commerce-backed effort to target ads about damages allegedly caused by Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs and devices. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) in March 2017 sent letters asking every state bar association to adopt self-imposed limits on drug ads. Those ads, Goodlatte said, should include disclaimers warning patients not to stop taking medications without consulting their doctors. ...