Lawmakers charge impotence ads don't stand up to the truth

A lawmaker yesterday said that punitive actions should be taken against media organizations that publish advertisements exaggerating the effectiveness of some new forms of surgery for impotence.

People First Party legislator Chen Chao-jung (陳朝容) called for the action after discovering advertisements in local media that make grandiose promises regarding a new form of penis vein surgery. The ads claim that "90 percent of impotent men can be cured" or say "80 percent have been disappointed with Viagra's effectiveness."

Chen Yi-an (陳怡安), an official from the Department of Health (衛生署), has also confirmed that the effectiveness of the operation is "completely overstated."

But while the advertisements' veracity may be questionable, government officials in charge of monitoring the media said there is little they can do.

Only when an advertisement violates laws governing criminal affairs or regulations related to pharmaceutical and medical affairs can advertisers be punished, said Chang Yu-jeng (張裕然), an official from the Government Information Office's (GIO) publications department.

Chang said the GIO is powerless to control this kind of behavior in print media and on the Internet but "advises them to follow their conscience" in screening advertisements. While no punitive action can be taken in these cases, there are more regulations to govern radio and television advertising.

But such loopholes risk endangering more individuals, said Chen Yen-chi (陳彥智), an assistant to the PFP lawmaker.