[Advertising of drugs: risk or benefits?]

It is obvious how important is the role of the physicians on drugs consumption. On account of their intermediary in the procurement and consumption of medicines, the prescriber is the main focus of manufacturers' promotional activities aiming at increasing sales and profits although these activities often are disguised as a means of education or information. Many reports have been issued emphasizing the influence of commercial sources upon the prescription. This text reviews two of them -advertisements in medical journals and the representatives- arriving to the conclusion that first ones display informations that are biased and incomplete while the representative in fact acts as a sales agent. The professional sources of information for prescribers are also described being evaluated how far-reaching the sources referred can be.