Medical Ethics and Prescription Drug Advertising

Medical Doctors are constantly being pitched to by drug companies about particular prescription drugs and their benefits. The information is part of target marketing designed to gather information about a doctor's prescribing patterns and then promote directly to the doctor to thereby increase his drug sales. A practice which leaves one questioning the industry and medical ethics.

Currently the U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating whether to overturn a Vermont State Law that, simply put, would limit the ability of drug makers to market sales pitches to doctors directly. Vermont currently restricts the use of prescription records for marketing and similar legislation exists in 27 other States. Although the point in question is the rights of data-miners free speech being violated, one could argue, it falls more greatly on the matter of the rights of individuals and medical ethics.

The very fact that the Centers for Disease Control has labeled prescription addiction as an epidemic in the U.S. points to the results of such marketing tactics. Direct to consumer marketing is known to increase prescription drug sales as well as the potential for abuse, as published in The Journal of New England Medicine. These marketing campaigns along with direct marketing to doctors has led to our nation's prescription addiction problem. The Director of the U.S. DEA, Gil Kerlikowske, testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health referring to prescription drugs as the "fastest-growing drug problem in the country."

Prescription drug addiction destroys lives. Doctors should not be harassed with streams of marketing pitches encouraging them to prescribe the latest drug because it will increase pharmaceutical company profits. Medicine must be restored to its basic values.

Every doctor begins his career subscribing to the Hippocratic Oath. In that Oath it states, "I WILL FOLLOW that method of treatment which according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patient and abstain from whatever is harmful or mischievous." It goes on to say, "WHATEVER IN CONNECTION with my professional practice or not in connection with it I may see or hear in the lives of my patients which ought not be spoken abroad, I will not divulge, reckoning that all such should be kept secret."

Given those two basic principles doctors agrees to puts in perspective the unethical conduct of direct to doctor marketing. Such actions have now surpassed reasonable conduct in the effort to make a profit. A doctors care of an individual is meant to be a sacred trust between the patient and the doctor. The doctor is bound by his own code of conduct to treat any such relationship as such. Many fine doctors exist that do hold fast to this virtue.

However, industries that hammer and pound these individuals who have a higher calling, one of the health and well-being of every patient they service, should be barred from harassing doctors in the solicitation of their wares. It truly is the doctor's decision as to what is best for his patient and what drug is needed or not needed. Marketing considerations and profit should have no bearing on this decision, only the knowledge from his education and experience in practice.

With a prescription drug addiction epidemic well under weigh it is time for our national leaders to take a stand on what is considered medical ethics and what isn't. Each one of us may someday depend on the decision of a doctor to determine our course of treatment and our future health. If that decision is influenced by which drug literature looked best or promised the best profit margin, it doubtlessly would be one decision, we as the patient, could do without.

Medicine is an honorable profession if done for and with the patient. Governmental influence should only be there to help to keep it so.

If you would like help in overcoming prescription addiction or more information on how to help others to do so, contact Narconon East U.S. at 877-237-3307.

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