China Bans Actors From Medical Commercials

Health Ministry calls drug commercials misleading
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 18, 2009 2:06 PM CST
China Bans Actors From Medical Commercials
In this photo provided by Roche, a delivery truck is being loaded with boxes containing more than 53,000 vials of Rocephin, in the Chinese province of Sichuan, Thursday, May 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Roche)

Stung by the appearance of a single actor playing four different medical experts, the Chinese government has prohibited actors from portraying doctors or patients in commercials, Variety reports. The outrage stemmed from a Beijing Times article that also revealed one actress had posed as someone suffering from lung, liver, kidney, and heart conditions in four drug commercials.

Actors and celebrities have been banned from hosting medical shows since last year. (More China stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X