L.A. Official Weighs Limits on Ads for Lap-Band Surgeries
On Wednesday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said he plans to work with county public health officials to determine the feasibility of new restrictions on local advertising of Lap-Band, a device used to treat obesity. A day earlier, FDA announced that it sent warning letters to eight surgical centers and the marketing firm 1-800-GET-THIN LLC in California about misleading ads of Lap-Band, noting that they failed to provide the required risk information about using the device. Ridley-Thomas said options could involve restrictions on billboard ads for the treatment in unincorporated areas and a county-sponsored ad campaign. Meanwhile, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones (D) has announced that his office has launched an investigation into the Lap-Band industry over alleged improper billing practices.
- "Lawmaker Considers Curbs on Lap-Band Billboards" (Pfeifer, Los Angeles Times, 12/15).