April 15, 2011

TV Ads Promote Consumer Requests For Expensive, Often Inappropriate Hip Devices

Gary Schwitzer writes on his blog “Health News Review” that he was “jolted” by a television commercial he saw recently for an artificial hip joint sold by medical device-maker Smith & Nephew.

The ad features athletic, fit, male body forms engaged in all sorts of strenuous pursuits; playing soccer, surfing, rock climbing up a craggy peak (!). The figures are rendered as stylized silhouettes but if I had to guess, I’d say they were designed with highly active men, age 40 to 50, in mind. Triatheletes and Ironmen wouldn’t be a stretch. Read more about this post>>