On 22nd January 2007 a California clinic that treats AIDS patients issued a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Viagra for “unjust and illegal conduct” in marketing the drug. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has demanded that Pfizer discontinue what it termed “deceptive” advertising practices and begin educating users about the danger of spreading sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS, when using the drug.
In addition, the complaint maintains that Pfizer markets the pills “in a way that associates the drug with sports and excitement” and “as a recreational sexual enhancement drug for younger men.” When used for this purpose, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation also alleged that Viagra encourages gay men to engage in risky sex as it purportedly enables men to overcome the erection inhibiting effects of drugs such as crystal methamphetamine and also alcohol and ecstasy.
Surely this is yet another example of litigation gone mad in America. The plaintiffs clearly have forgotten that Viagra is a prescription only drug in America as well as here in the UK. Any person wishing to purchase genuine Viagra has to go through a doctor, either online or face to face. The lawsuit also suggests that people are stupid and that it is the fault of Viagra that people are having unprotected sex while on illegal drugs. Do they not for one minute think that it might be the mind-bending effects of the crystal meths that cause people to throw caution to the wind and dispense with the normal practice of wearing a condom? To say that it is the fault of Viagra because it allows them to have an erection when the illegal drugs being consumed might otherwise preclude such an event is quite frankly ludicrous!