The 'This Medicine May Cause Death' meme satirizes American pharmaceutical advertisements where a narrator quickly lists horrific side effects—ranging from mild itching to literal death—while the background video depicts people enjoying blissful, carefree activities like hiking or gardening. It serves as a commentary on the absurdity of modern healthcare marketing and the jarring disconnect between corporate warnings and visual presentation. Users often swap the medicine for other relatable situations, like starting a new job, entering a relationship, or playing a difficult video game, to joke about the hidden risks lurking beneath seemingly positive choices.