Direct to Consumer Advertising - 1068 Words

Business Ethics Second Paper – Deontological Analysis June 19, 2013 Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising: Ethical or Not? The United States and New Zealand are the only developed countries that allow direct-to-consumer advertising. Whether the practice of direct to consumer advertising is beneficial to the consumers or not is a highly debated subject with both positions presenting sound reasoning for their position. Whether the practice is beneficial or not to the consumer is not the question, but rather, is advertising prescription drugs directly to consumers ethical? To analyze this question I will use Rawls’s second principle of distributive justice for analysis. (2) use that method, developing the argument in support†¦show more content†¦In regards to the price of prescription drugs, supporters note that the advertising promotes competition among the drug companies, thus driving the drug prices down. Assuming that this is true, which is disputable in itself, â€Å"some opponents also suggest that DTCPA increases health care costs because visits to the physician prompted by a drug ad can be a waste of time and money†.(nih.gov) So if the prices are driven down then that would be of benefit to some and if they are, in fact, increased that would be of impact to all consumers. This ethical analysis does not require an answer as to which point of view is true. For this ethical analysis, the questions are if direct-to-consumer drug advertising is â€Å"reasonably expected to be to everyone’s advantage† and are the advantages â€Å"attached to positions and offices open to all?† (DeGeorge 78) So the drug companies are making more money and insured Americans are obtaining better health, but what about the least advantaged group? What benefit does drug advertising serve to someone that is uninsured and unable to pay for the drug? Has Rawls requirement of the acceptable inequality been met? Acceptable inequality isShow MoreRelatedDirect Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising ( Dtcpa )1312 Words   |  6 PagesDirect-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising (DTCPA), defined as â€Å"an effort (usually via popular media) made by a pharmaceutical company to promote ... prescription products directly to patients,† is a common practice and an important issue that impacts the health of U.S. citizens, the prices of presc ription drugs and health care, and doctor-patient relationships (Ventola). This paper will discuss the historical and political lens of DTCPA: how and why changes to DTCPA were made in the past, howRead MoreDirect-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs570 Words   |  2 PagesDirect-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs: Direct-to-consumer advertisements of prescription drugs have become common aspects in todays advertising mediums such as Television and magazines. Direct-to-consumer advertising has partially been brought by the development of the pharmaceutical marketplace. These developments have contributed to the presentation of more information to patients in attempts to make the health care system better. In the current pharmaceutical marketplace, advertisingRead MoreThe Unethical Impacts of Direct to Consumer Drug Advertising1130 Words   |  5 Pagescampaign style called Direct to Consumer Drug Advertising or known as DTCA. This campaign has led to a large increase of clinical examinations has led to a large increase in clinical examination and this makes the pharmaceutical companies happy and helps padding their pockets. Using this type of advertising, these drug companies allow details of a particular drug to spread to a potential patient and then most likely pushed by the doctor upon visi t. These types of advertising campaigns are focusedRead MoreDirect Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising : Looking For The Future1261 Words   |  6 PagesDirect-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising: Looking to the Future Chances are, you have in some way, shape, or form encountered pharmaceutical advertising nearly everyday of your life. In the United States, pharmaceutical advertising has presented several concerns to consumers. Steps should be taken to reduce the negative effects of these types of advertisements. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, such as the TV commercials or magazine ads you see telling you to â€Å"ask your doctor if such-and-suchRead MoreThe Ethical Appropriateness Of Direct Consumer Advertising Of Drugs Essay1246 Words   |  5 PagesWhat facts would you want to know before making a judgement on the ethical appropriateness of direct consumer advertising of drugs? I believe in the case where pharmaceutical companies are advertising with television commercials or paid advertisements within magazines are well within moral and good ethical standards. Consumers can choose to remain on the same television channel or read an advertisement within a magazine to become more educated about a specific pharmaceutical. However, in the caseRead MoreEssay about Direct To Consumer Pharmacuetical Advertising1421 Words   |  6 Pagesliberty to diagnose his or her own affliction? If so, are they also qualified enough to know the right medication and take into consideration the drugs adverse effects? With the recent onset of direct to consumer advertising for prescription drugs, this is becoming the case. In 1994, expenditures on direct to consumer advertisements were about twenty-five-million a year. By 1998 that figure changed to about 225 million (Sasich 2). Turn on the TV, there they are. Open your favorite magazine, there they areRead MoreEssay about Adv ertising Ethics1274 Words   |  6 Pages The age of advertising today is not what it used to be years ago. Pharmaceutical companies are spending on average billions of dollars to market their drugs directly to the consumers. With this comes a potential harm to some consumers due to the fact that they feel like they are free to ask for anything that may stop the symptoms they have. Should the FDA take a stand in putting a stop to how certain drugs are marketed, or just continue to let it get out of control? Who should be able to controlRead MoreEssay about Deontological Advertising 1279 Words   |  6 Pagesconveniently. Unsurprisingly, the field of advertising in the business world is specifically dedicated to understanding exactly what products or services are of interest to us, the consumers. Commercial entities spend considerable amount of resources to advertising. The pharmaceutical industry is no different. It is with this context in mind and utilizing the Deontological fram ework, that I will examine the ethical fabric of direct pharmaceutical marketing to consumers. In the age of information, we areRead MoreDeontological Paper1343 Words   |  6 Pagesspent on advertising each year with the goal of increasing revenue for the business or raising awareness of an organization to the public. Pharmaceutical companies bring products to the markets that are intended to help people live better lives. Advertising is a relatively new phenomenon for pharmaceutical companies in the United States. â€Å"In 1985, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has the responsibility for safety regulations governing drugs, passed a ruling that allowed direct marketRead MoreAdvertising Prescription Drugs And The United States1021 Words   |  5 Pagesever watched TV in America you are aware of â€Å"direct-to consumer (DTC) advertising for prescription drugs. These are ads provided by drug companies in the intent to educate the general public on the benefits of their product. They often feature celebrities or catchy cartoons with very healthy satisfie d patients. This type of advertising of prescription drugs is unique to the United States. It was one of only two countries that allows DTC advertising. New Zealand is the only other developed nation