Direct-To-Consumer Prescription Drugs

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I do think that this advertising could lead to someone's loss for a hope for a cure. They could see that this as a cure all and then when it does not work, they could get discouraged. Self-diagnosis is a major problem in this country. Not just with direct-to-consumer advertising, but with internet usage as well. Many people see this as an end to their illness without actually getting a diagnosis. Sometimes different illnesses need different medications and have similar symptoms leading to misdiagnosis and wrong antibiotics.

Some people may argue that people do not go to the doctor to diagnose ailments. Direct-to-consumer advertising thus allows people to know about their options and what can be done. It prompts people to know their option and get medicated. This could be called Rawl's Principles of Justice. It promotes patients education, educates patients and allows them to take charge of their health. In the U.S., it is thought that informing consumers will benefit the drive for health care reform. Consumers can also benefit from having access to multiple information sources about drugs and other treatment options rather than relying solely on health care providers. This is not an ethical situation as stated above. Physicians need to be in control in educating patients and not the patients themselves. Patients are not educated enough to make that decision for themselves.

Direct-to-consumer advertising informs patients potentially suffering from disease and raises their awareness of treatment options. As of right now, New Zealand and the US are the only countries that allow direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. “New Zealand consumers then go to their doctors and the pressure to prescribe begins. Surveys carried out in New Zealand and in the USA show that when a patient asks for a specific drug by name they receive it more often than not” (Who).

In conclusion, I believe that with research done on the Kant theory, I agree that the direct-to-consumer presctiption drug advertising is not an ethical situation. I believe that it should be up the doctors to diagnose and treat as necessary and not the actual patient. Upon looking at many aspects of different views, I think that this is an unethical dilema that should be stopped.

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work cited:

Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising: Therapeutic or Toxic? (Pharmacy and Therapeutics)

By: Ventola, C..

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3278148/

"Direct-to-consumer Advertising under Fire." WHO. Web. 29 June 2015. .