Affirmative

I. Patients are more likely to ask their doctor for a specific brand-name medication, and
doctors are more likely to prescribe one, when they have been marketed directly with
drug advertisements
II. Direct-to-consumer advertising inflates demand for new and more expensive drugs, even
when these drugs may not be appropriate (American Medical Association)
➢ The United States is only one of two developed countries in the world in which
direct consumer advertising is allowed
III. It should tell the whole story and provide clear information about drug prices, so patients
can make informed decisions
➢ The Supreme Court has upheld the government’s authority to ensure that
consumers receive accurate information
IV. 76% of public wants prices disclosed← (source)
V. Consumer Bill of Rights is proclaimed by President John F. Kennedy in a message to
Congress. Included are the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose,
and the right to be heard

Negative

I. Free speech (1st Amendment): Citizens United v. FEC says that corporations have right
to free speech
Rebuttal:
-Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act, enforced by FDA, requires
prominent label warnings on hazardous household chemical products.
-Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires all consumer products in interstate
commerce to be honestly and informatively labeled, with FDA enforcing
provisions on foods, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices
-Commerce Clause gives government power to regulate interstate commerce

II. Disclosing prices won’t help high prices

Rebuttal:
- Disclosing prices will help reduce prices
- Increased price transparency will encourage pharmaceutical companies to lower
their prices, in order to avoid being exposed for high prices and get more business
- Even in the event that prices are not lowered, the public has a right to be informed
III. High list prices could discourage people from buying pharmaceutical drugs
Rebuttal:
- High list prices will encourage consumers to explore other, cheaper options
- Increased transparency will allow consumers to make more informed decisions

First Constructive Speech - Nina

Proposal
Logos
Pathos
➢ Shrek (Shkreli)
○ Imagine a shreklike face. Greasy, gelled up hair. A wide, wide forehead full of
acne A malicious smile. His beard stubble gives him a friendly, personable
appearance; but it is a lie. Just look into his eyes. His soulless eyes. His evil,
beady eyes. His face is large, as is his ego. This is the face of Martin Shkreli. And
he is the enemy.
------Ms. Filman

➢ The Health and Human Services Department should enact the clause of the American
Patients First blueprint which proposes that pharmaceutical companies should be required
to disclose drug prices in ads
➢ Informed consumer
➢ Public opinion (76%)

Second Constructive Speech - Abby

➢ RESPOND TO THE OTHER SIDE

➢ Consumer Bill of Rights- according to JFK, public has right to be informed
➢ Direct to Consumer ads increase demand for expensive drugs, according to the American
Medical Association
➢ They also increase the likelihood doctors will prescribe

First Rebuttal Speech

Second Rebuttal Speech

LOGOS VS PATHOS

PATHOS→ lead with anecdotes -- martin sckreli

Interview with Ms. Filman

“It’s absolutely highway robbery, in many cases, for people that don’t have insurance that covers
most of the cost of these medications that they need to survive”
“I have a friend, for example, that is type 1 diabetic, and she was a teacher so she had amazing
coverage from her insurance. Now she has a different job, and in between jobs had to pay
something like 1200 dollars a month for her insulin, which for some people they can’t live, and
again, that’s something that they need to live”

“For someone like me, I have an autoimmune disorder, and I have been needing medication
since I was 26, and without insurance, my medication would cost 8000 dollars a month”

“For drug companies to skyrocket their prices, and for what? If that means that people aren’t able
to survive, or live a healthy life, then that’s awful.”

“I think that if [drug companies] had to explain to people and be transparent about the cost,
perhaps they would think twice about what they’re charging. If everybody knew how much these
drug companies were making, I think there would be a revolt, [people] would be doing what it
takes to get these drug companies to lower their prices.”

“For people that don’t have that insurance coverage, I think for sure it would make companies
think about how much they’re charging.”

“It means that some people don’t have access to medications that they need in order to live
healthy lives, and in some cases survive.”

Shkreli the Villain

- Shkreli jacked up price of Daraprim-- a medication to treat toxoplasmosis, a disease

caused by parasites which is dangerous to unborn children and those with weakened
immune systems, including AIDS patients and patients undergoing chemotherapy, and
malaria-- by 5,000%
- He says “I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but I liken myself to robber barons”
- He says “If you have a drug that is $100 for one course of therapy, and you know that
you can charge $100,000, what should shareholders think when you say, ‘I’d rather not
take the heat’?”

American Patients First

-”We have access to the greatest medicines in the world, but access is meaningless without
affordability” qtd. By Health and Human Services official (official was Azar, do not mention
name unless necessary bc people will have bad associations)