In 2008, Cynthia DiBartolo saw television advertisements for the psoriasis drug HUMIRA, manufactured by Abbott Laboratories (USDCSDNY, 2012, p.7). Her dermatologist prescribed the drug on her request and DiBartolo later developed squamous cell carcinoma (USDCSDNY, 2012, p. 1). In 2011, Abbott released data indicating that HUMIRA was associated with increased risk of skin cancer (USDCSDNY, 2012, p.10). DiBartolo and her dermatologist were unaware of these side-effects since the advertisement did not indicate cancer risk even though Abbott gained that knowledge during their clinical trials (USDCSDNY, 2012, p.1 & p.8).
DiBartolo’s lawsuit against Abbott demonstrates the larger ethical issue of Direct-To-Consumer Advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs. Should pharmaceutical companies directly advertise to patients? Can patients engage physicians in knowledgeable discussions? Do advertisements adequately describe drug risks and benefits? These issues are debated by physicians, patients, drug manufacturers, and the USFDA. To determine ethicality, DTCA requires evaluation of practicality, social implications, and the methods by which health information is disseminated. DTCA refers to the use of media to directly market drugs to patients (Atherly & Rubin, 2009, p. 640). Prior to the 1980’s, prescription medications were advertised in professional journals and sales representatives made direct proposals to physicians (Cline & Young, 2004, p. 132). Later, public advertisements
There are proponents of DTC prescription drug ads. They argue that “the ads inform patients about diseases and possible treatments, encourage people to seek medical advice, help remove stigma associated with medical conditions, and provide needed sales revenue to fund costly research and development (R&D) of new drugs (Drug Ads ProCon.org).” On the flip side opponents argue “that DTC drug ads misinform patients, promote drugs before long-term safety-profiles can be known, medicalize and stigmatize normal conditions and bodily functions like wrinkles and low testosterone, waste valuable medical appointment time, and have led to our society’s overuse of prescription drugs (Drug Ads ProCon.org).”
This paper takes the stand that direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of pharmaceutical drugs is unethical. This stand is based on the belief that many developed countries in the world have banned such kind of advertising because they believe that it is unethical. I believe that the advertising of pharmaceutical drugs is unethical because it gives consumers hope that a specific drug can cure their disease. However, this might not be the case as only a qualified medical practitioner can prescribe the right medication to treat a particular disease or condition. This is a major issue given that many consumers might prefer to be treated with an advertized pharmaceutical drug, yet it might not be the best drug for their specific ailment. It is believed
Over the last several years, pharmaceutical companies have launched a campaign 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 visit. These types of advertising campaigns are focused on trying to “enrich” the consumer (Relman p28). Even though this type of advertising campaign allows most drugs to be cheaper overall, consumers should be concerned about the
Overall, the analysis found that 37% of physicians said they sometimes or often agreed to prescribe a brand-name drug at their patients’ request.” Consumers rarely think to give their doctor permission not to prescribe them a drug. The emotional connection and sense of urgency created by advertisements can make patients develop a sense of dependency on the product before even trying it.
Prescription medication is one of the most common methods used to treat various physical and psychological ailments. As the pharmaceutical industry grows in the wake of successful pharmacological treatments, there is also growing concern regarding the overuse of medication. Evidence of overprescribing is supported by the increase of reported negative side effects associated with prolonged overuse of medication. In addition, overprescribing is also supported by the growing rate of deliberate medication misuse in the United States for purposes of abuse and profit. Similarly, the rise in funds allocated for direct-to-consumer and physician-focused advertising reinforce the perception
There are many direct to consumer advertising for prescription drugs. On television, magazines, radio etc, you see the most recent advertisements for prescription drugs. After some people see the advertisements they soon rush over to their doctor and their illness and life would be perfectly pain and stress free. Making the public conscious of options for treatment is not a bad thing. But these false advertisements are misleading consumers onto unnecessary treatment.
There is a significant correlation between an increase in direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertisements and an increase in prescriptions. The critics who are opposed to direct-to-pharmaceutical advertisements suggest that more advertising leads to more requests and more prescriptions of certain medications. They also claim that the publications of such advertisements may eventually blur the distinction between patient and consumer if we are not careful. Physicians have reported that most patients who are knowledgeable on a DTC advertised pharmaceutical
Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) marketing of prescription drugs in America has been debatable. DTC marketing has its benefits and disadvantages. There has been much discussion with DTC marketing over the role of consumers in medical decision making, the appropriateness of consumers engaging in self-diagnosis, and the ethics of an industry promoting potentially harmful drugs. Drug marketing and federal policy governing drug marketing have both responded to and reinforced changes in the consumer's role in health care and in the doctor patient relationship over time. A benefit of direct marketing of prescription drugs is that patients have a direct route of being informed instead of having to visit the doctors and have a third party involved. DTC allows
Without the rather excessive amount of DTC ads placed in our lives, millions of people may have never even thought to go to the doctor’s office for an exam, may have forgotten about taking medicine in the first place. The revenue being made from these ads further the research and development of medications, making the availability to consumers higher. On the other hand, there are still concerns regarding DTC advertising, bringing up points of potential overdose and misleading advertising. Clearly, prescription drug ads are not only important but perhaps even vital in the fight to cure the diseases that affect us the most, and to furthering a better
We wanted to find out why citing unbranded studies is not being done by pharmaceutical companies so we checked existing regulations for drug promotion and pharmaceutical ads.
Having grasped the idea that Americans are overmedicated; understanding why the industry moved to a pill first treatment and why people continue on this path will make the deception feel worse. Determining why prescription drugs are so popular can be explained in one word, advertising. Drug companies understand the power of advertising to get the correct messages out to a predetermined audience. The marketing of these drugs is very well planned, not to mention abundant. In 1997, after pressure on the FDA by the drug companies, the rules for advertising were altered; this change allowing the required information in an advertisement to be brief (Cardon and Showalter 5432). With the inclusion of where to get detailed information about a specific drug, the capabilities about what could be
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing of pharmaceuticals has grown increasingly in the past decade. The American public views prescription drug advertising for a wide range of medical conditions, including high cholesterol, depression, allergies, and erectile dysfunction. The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the content of these advertisements. Critics also have taken the position that the advertisements garner unearned trust from the public, are misleading, and promote unnecessary use of prescription drugs for common problems associated with aging. Proponents counter that DTC ads help eliminate stigmas associated with certain medical conditions, give patients an active role in their health care management, and
Direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising (DTCPA), defined as “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 prescription 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, how current politics suggests a possible change to decrease or limit future DTCPA could be accomplished, and specific regulatory aspects that require more attention. This is important because in order to propose reasonable changes, we need to understand which would likely succeed in the near future and which are most needed.
In the articles “Prescription Drug Ads Should Be Better Regulated” and “Prescription Drug Advertising Empowers Patients”, the authors discuss the impact of prescription drug advertising on drug costs, consumer behaviors and consumers and Doctors’ relationship. While pharmaceutical companies support prescription drug advertising because they think that its effects are positive, Naomi Freundlich claims that prescription drug advertise should be more controlled. Because “Administration is underfunded and lacks the resources to enforce many of the regulations that are already in place” “big pharmaceutical companies must do a better job with self-regulation” (Naomi) in order to reduce the negative consequences of prescription drugs ads.
The best course of action, in protecting consumers of prescription medicine, would be to ban direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of these medications. Research has shown that DTC ads provide biased educational materials that promote medication over healthy alternatives (Stange, 2007). Conversations between the patient and health care provider revolve around DTC ads rather than the patient’s personal health. Discussing why the DTC drug is not the best option for the patient could result in decreased conversations about the patient’s behavior, family health history or recent patient health concerns. DTC advertisements create an environment through which patient vulnerability and fear of illness is manipulated and the selected drug serves as the best solution. These advertisements should encourage the patient to encourage communications between the patient and doctor on ways to become healthier; instead they foster a belief that drug dependency is a more viable solution than healthy behaviors. As of right now, only the United States and New Zealand do not ban the use of DTC ads (Stange, 2007).