Can I say it?
Can I say “skip the doctor” in a telehealth ad?
Usually no. 5 rules fired across 3 sample sentences, and the checker's own text explains why.
The short answer
Usually no. The checker blocks the bare phrase in this setting. The first rule it hits is CG-RPL-001. Its reason: Telling people to replace or skip medical care is a safety risk and a deceptive claim.
Source the rule cites: FTC Act section 5; FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance; state medical practice acts
Checked as an ad promoting a clinical service.
A clear result is not an all-clear. The checker flags wording for review and does not know your evidence, your state or your platform's review. Read the limitations.
Sample wording, run through the checker
These are sentences written to contain the phrase, not real claims. Each ran through the real engine and the shipped rule-set when this site was built.
Skip the doctor and get treated online.
- Blocking
CG-RPL-001Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor” - Blocking
CG-TRG-001Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor” - Blocking
CG-TRI-003Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor” - WarningCG-TRH-005Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor”
- Warning
CG-TRK-012Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor”
Skip the doctor, skip the wait.
- Blocking
CG-RPL-001Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor” - Blocking
CG-TRG-001Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor” - Blocking
CG-TRI-003Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor” - WarningCG-TRH-005Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor”
- Warning
CG-TRK-012Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor”
Why see a specialist? Skip the doctor with our app.
- Blocking
CG-RPL-001Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor” - Blocking
CG-TRG-001Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor” - Blocking
CG-TRI-003Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor” - WarningCG-TRH-005Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor”
- Warning
CG-TRK-012Replaces care. Matched: “Skip the doctor”
What to say instead
This version came back with no rule fired:
See a licensed clinician online, often sooner than an in-person visit. Your own doctor stays part of your care.
What the rules themselves suggest:
- CG-RPL-001 Position the service as a complement to care from their clinician, and tell people to speak to their clinician before changing treatment.
- CG-TRG-001 Remove any language about stopping, reducing or replacing medication, clinicians or vaccines. Tell people to talk to their prescriber before changing treatment.
- CG-TRI-003 Do not present a product as a substitute for prescribed treatment or imply safety with all drugs. Tell patients to talk to their prescriber before changing pain control or adding supplements.
The rules behind this answer
Reason, source and citation for each rule that fired, in the checker's own words. Blocking rules come first.
CG-RPL-001 · Blocks approval
Telling people to replace or skip medical care is a safety risk and a deceptive claim.
Source: FTC Act section 5; FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance; state medical practice acts
Safer wording: Position the service as a complement to care from their clinician, and tell people to speak to their clinician before changing treatment.
See source text · Needs counsel review
CG-TRG-001 · Blocks approval
Telling people to quit, cut, replace or skip prescribed medication, clinicians or vaccines, or that no care is required, is a claim that a product works in place of medical care and is dangerous.
Source: FTC Act section 5; FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance; FDCA 201(g)
Safer wording: Remove any language about stopping, reducing or replacing medication, clinicians or vaccines. Tell people to talk to their prescriber before changing treatment.
See source text · Needs counsel review
CG-TRI-003 · Blocks approval
Offering a supplement as a replacement for opioids, surgery or physician care, promising safety with every medication, or promising to save sight or life is a replace-care and disease treatment claim.
Source: FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (2022); FDCA section 403(r)(6); FTC Act section 5
Safer wording: Do not present a product as a substitute for prescribed treatment or imply safety with all drugs. Tell patients to talk to their prescriber before changing pain control or adding supplements.
See source text · Needs counsel review
CG-TRH-005 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text
Offering prescription or controlled medications without an exam, labs, history or physician involvement, or letting non-physicians adjust doses by text, markets prescribing outside the standard of care and bypasses safeguards.
Source: Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, 21 U.S.C. 829(e) and 802(54); DEA telemedicine rules; FTC Act section 5; state medical board telemedicine standards
Safer wording: Describe a real clinician evaluation, including history and appropriate testing, before any prescription, and never advertise prescribing without exam or with unsupervised dose changes.
21 U.S.C. 829 · Needs counsel review
CG-TRK-012 · Warns
Telling readers to ditch, skip or replace medication, screening, surgery or clinicians in favor of a product steers them away from necessary care.
Source: FTC Act section 5 (15 USC 45); FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (2022); FDA misbranding 21 USC 352
Safer wording: Do not present the product as a substitute for care. Say it is not a replacement for medication, screening or a clinician.
See source text · Needs counsel review
Background: Off-label promotion in the glossary.
Questions
Which rule covers skip-the-doctor wording?
Rule CG-RPL-001. The rule's reason: Telling people to replace or skip medical care is a safety risk and a deceptive claim.
What should I write instead?
The rule's own suggestion for rule CG-RPL-001: Position the service as a complement to care from their clinician, and tell people to speak to their clinician before changing treatment.
If the checker shows nothing, can I publish?
No. A clean result means none of the checker's rules matched. It does not weigh your evidence, your state or your platform's review, and it is not legal advice. Read the limitations page for what it misses.
Next step
Check your own wording
Paste your copy into the free checker. Every flag names its rule and its source.