[NPInfo] Letter to and Bayer Consumer Brands//PLEASE WRITE

[David Mittman]

Hi Everyone:
Was not able to obtain email addresses but
here are two people to write to and a sample letter. Bayer is widely  
advertised and now we can actually get to these people before this  
commercial is on every news program giving what we feel is an  
inappropriate message to our patients.
Please take a minute to customize the below letter, address an envelop 
[e and mail it. Let's see if our collective strength can have an  
effect on Bayer.

Here is the ad. Please view:  http://mdchangetheworld.com/index.asp? 
bhp=1
------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Balkema
President
AND
Andrew Nestler
Director of Sales
Bayer Consumer Products
36 Columbia Turnpike
Morristown, NJ  07962

Dear Mr. Nestler:
Recently I was able to view a direct to consumer ad that will target  
patients about Bayer Aspirin.
I was truly concerned and taken aback about how "doctor/physician"  
centric the ad is and wonder if you have considered nurse  
practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) when putting  
together this campaign. Both of these professions are allowed to  
practice in the same way physicians do. Both these professions  
diagnose and treat heart disease and both of these professions are  
now allowed to prescribe in all 50 states.
In using language such as  "see your doctor" "you and your doctor"  
and other such phrases multiple times and just to view the ad  
campaign's name, you are doing much to maintain the notion among the  
public that the only professionals to see for healthcare are  
"doctors". If you do not believe that please do not say it and also  
please let me know. If you do not let me know, I will not recommend  
your products. There are now about 180,000 PAs and NPs in practice  
across America. There was an article about both professions and how  
we relate to DTC advertising by some of my colleagues in the December  
2007 issue of DTC Perspectives Magazine. Also, a number of PAs and  
NPs have already registered negative feedback via your MDchangethe  
world.com website and were told that Bayer is sorry but "the ad  
tested well". I guess that says it all.
I respectfully ask that you use the phrase "healthcare professional"  
instead of doctor so that consumers will realize there are others on  
the team who can diagnose, treat and prescribe, not just the doctor.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Eagerly awaiting your reply,
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
address
email

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Bayer Consumer Products
Aleve
Bronchaid
Alka-Seltzer
Midol
Neo-Synepherine
Bactine
Citrical
Bayer ASA Pdts
RID
Vanquish
Campo-Phenique