Merck and Logo have teamed up to make this HIV treatment "PSA" starring former project runway contestant Jack Mackenroth. While I give Jack a lot of credit for making so much of his life, I can't help but wonder if Jack's shirtless physique and lines like "there are so many treatments now" causes the ad to downplay the seriousness of HIV and miss an opportunity to talk about prevention. After all, this is Jack 20 years after his HIV diagnosis and he's apparently perfectly healthy. And we all know everybody with HIV is lucky enough to be in the same fortunate situation (and able to afford their medication). The call-to-action of the PSA is a website called "HealthyWithHIV.com," which not surprisingly links to a website for the drug Isentress which is made by Merck. The prescription drug industry and our country's lack of regulation regarding it never ceases to amaze me.
I agree. I think this says a lot of why infection rates seem to be rising. People no longer seem to fear HIV and so are not taking the precautions they were 15 years ago in prevention. So unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteProviding hope is important, but so is prevention.