Economical aspect in pharmaceutical industry - Essay Example

Ethics paper Thesis: the most controversial aspect of pharmaceutical industry is its economical aspect: on the one hand it is a monetary source for further investment in innovative development of drugs and on the other hand it is often misused for the establishment of unreliable relations with doctors, who are manipulated by a variety of gifts. An interesting question comes to our mind when pharmaceutical industry and ethics are correlated with each other: on the one hand it is cannot be questioned that medicine could be unethical, because this field protects and saves our lives; but on the other hand, very often not a human health or life is of central concern for modern medics, but profits gaining.

The proponents of this tendency may claim that it would lead to increase of drugs sales, higher profits, a creation of new workplaces and financing of new pharmaceutical researches. The most ethically controversial field of medicine is pharmaceutical industry. Gaining the highest profits is a central concern for pharmeceutists, so the field faces serious problems connected with following commonly established ethics principle. The majority of pharmacists have forgotten about the most important question they have to ask themselves about: do I do everything right?

What is even worse is that they ask question: do I do that what would bring the highest profits? In case, when pharmacists develop a new drug and suddenly reveal some abnormal side effects, the majority of them would hardly inform the investors about this fact. It is more convenient to hide it and continue to work. A selfish and pragmatic nature of contemporaries concerns pharmacists as well. It is suggested by Woodruff, that a perfect Golden Rule for pharmaceutical industry would be: “The right drug, for the right patient, at the right time, in the right manner” (Woodruff).

  Moreover, monetary rush of pharmacists often influences on doctors. Thus, it is profitable for the former to get attention of doctors and they give numerous gifts to them. Thus, industry gifts “raise a conflict with the standard that's supposed to apply in medicine, of what's in the best interest of the patient” (Ackerman). There is a wide scope of presents suggested by pharmaceuticals companies: from family dinners to travel expenses. This approach contradicts with the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs guidelines (revised in 2000) (Ackerman).

Nevertheless, the majority of doctors does not have enough information about those guidelines and violate norms and regulations presented there. Moreover, there have been numerous advertising campaigns and it was often chosen to pay doctors for their time, to give them some gifts etc. Nevertheless, it should be noted that pharmaceuticals advertising campaigns were mainly developed not only for promotion of new drugs, but also for education of medical personnel. Therefore, currently it is a very popular strategy for pharmaceutical industry to: “create and strengthen ties with doctors by positioning themselves as educational resources on narrowly defined therapeutic areas and complicated diseases” (LeClaire).

There are also examples, when pharmaceutical companies work in compliance with the code of ethics. Thus, Alcon Laboratories, an ophthalmic drug maker invites physicians to visit their lectures and after that, some cultural or sport events take place. The central focus of this company is development of medical educational campaigns and the company is detached from promotional campaigns directed on entertainment (LeClaire). Thus, the campaigns developed by Alcon Laboratories can be justified in terms of outcome-based ethics.

It means that in the result of educational programs and trainings, doctors get new knowledge, increase their professionalism and get acquainted with the innovative developments in the pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, their interest and further cooperation is not created on a monetary basis (i.e. with the help of some gifts or services). A voluntarily basis of doctors-pharmacists cooperation is a guaranteed ethical way of professional and business behavior. Moreover, ethics in this field is based on two main pillars: a patient’s relief, a successful mutual cooperation between doctors and pharmacists that leads to further advancement and innovations in the pharmaceutical field.

Works cited 1. Dr. Ackerman. Is There Really a Difference Between a Ball Point Pen With a Logo On It and Two Tickets to a Football Game? Available from: 2. LeClaire, J. The New Ethics in Pharmaceutical Sales. Available from: 3. Woodruff, S. Drug company ethics and the pharmaceutical industry’s pursuit of profit. Available from: