DIRECT TO CONSUMER ADVERTISING OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

DIRECT TO CONSUMER ADVERTISING OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS NAME: INSTITUTION: DATE: The rate of marketing and advertising of prescription drugs done by the pharmaceuticals have increased rapidly. This has brought about both positive and negative results in the society. Most of the negative effects of the direct to consumer (DTC) marketing and advertising have not gone unnoticed (Hartman, & DesJardins, 2008). Therefore, this paper looks into issues such as whether the DTC advertising and marketing of prescription drugs is ethical, the benefits as well as the costs of DTC of prescription drugs directly to physicians and the ethical issues that should be considered when marketing prescription drugs. Is direct to consumer (DTC) advertising of drugs considered ethical? What facts could be supplied to help you make your decision? The DTC advertising and marketing of prescription drugs would be considered unethical. This is because the approach of the consumers by the brand and the agents may affect the consumers` who are the patient and may need assistance of physicians (Hartman, & DesJardins, 2008). This affects the relationship between the doctor and the patient. The fact that the patient has seen an advert on a certain prescription drug, may be enough to bias their confidence on the drug while it may be different from the physician who may know the best medication for this particular case. Therefore the physician and the patient may not agree. This may end up to patients lacking confidence in physicians. Further, the DTC marketing and advertising of prescription drugs may lead to over dose or abuse of prescription drugs (Hartman, & DesJardins, 2008). Consumers may not understand when and how the drug may be consumed. Therefore, when they feel a similar symptom as indicated in the adverts they may end up purchasing and taking the wrong medication. In addition, the price of marketing a...