The Social Media Consumers Health Essay

The Social Media Consumers Health Essay
The Social Media Consumers Health
The social media industry's fast development over the last decade has been changing prescription
drugs advertising because most pharmaceutical companies are aware that many American
consumers are regularly using social media platforms. For example, according to Kees et al. "Barely
or Fairly Balancing Drug Risks? Content and Format Effects in Direct–To–Consumer Online
Prescription Drug Promotions" 37% of Americans searched the internet for information on
prescription drugs on 2006 (687). Later, according to Liang et al. "Prevalence and Global Health
Implications of Social Media in Direct–To–Consumer Drug Advertising", 51% of adults searched
for health information on the internet from January to June 2009 (207–16). As a result, most
pharmaceutical companies are significantly increasing their prescription drugs advertising on social
media platforms because it is highly likely that this practice will increase their earnings. This form
of advertising is known as direct–to–consumer advertising. Direct–to–consumer advertising is
regulated by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (Kees et al. 676). Therefore, the
Food and Drug Administration of the United States should constantly update the direct–to–consumer
advertising regulations for pharmaceutical companies use and enforce the implementation of these
regulations in order to prevent negative effects on American consumer's health. For that reason,
direct–to–consumer advertising on
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Direct-To-Consumer Advertising (DTCA)
to consumers. Every one of us have seen the commercials depicting a loving middle– aged couple
holding hands by a lake or in a luxurious hot tub together. This brand of advertising known as
Direct–to–consumer advertising or DTCA. DTCA is flooding our televisions , internet , and
magazines. The spending of the pharmaceutical companies on marketing has surged significantly.
Unquestionably, television ads are the most prominent form of health communication
To engage in further discussion, there must be an understanding of the different ads allowed by the
Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and how television advertisements became a topic of debate.
Eli Lilly, the drug company that makes Cialis, spent $269 million in 2014 on television

Direct Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising ( Dtcpa )
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. First of all, understanding the significant roles of culture and
the political groups in changing DTCPA's history can help us understand how and why future
changes might be accomplished. Culture has been a driving force throughout DTCPA's history. Julie
Donohue, who is qualified to discuss this because she "earned PhD in health policy from Harvard
University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pharmaceutical policy research at Harvard
Medical School," presented an exhaustive history of U.S. DTCPA in The Milbank Quarterly
("Julie"). The 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act, operating under the Progressive Era's cultural belief in
consumers' "sacred right to self

Direct-To-Consumer Advertising Analysis
"The United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that allow direct–to–
consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs" (AMA, 2015). DTC advertising negatively
impacts the pharmaceutical industry by raising costs of prescription drugs and discouraging
competition it what has become a "consolidated pharmaceutical marketplace. (AMA, 2015) It is
hard to turn on the TV or radio today without hearing a commercial for a drug or medical device.
DTC genetic tests have recently become available as well. These advertisements are awash with
information conveyed as ratios and probabilities framed in often confusing and misleading ways.
The American Medical Association is currently working to ban DTC advertising for drugs and ...
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Individuals can now, not only receive testing through a clinic, but also have the option of Direct–to–
consumer genetic tests, which can be marketed directly to individuals through advertisements in
various media outlets. Though as stated above the AMA is trying to change this. DTC genetic tests
allow individuals to exclude doctors and insurance companies from the decision making process. It
is important to examine what this means for the individual as well as how numeracy plays a role in
all of it (Langford, Resnicow, Roberts, & Zikmund–Fisher, 2012; Miron–Shatz, Hanoch, Doniger,
Omer, & Ozanne, 2014; Miron–Shatz, Hanoch, Katz, Doniger, & Ozanne, 2015). Though there
appear to be dangers in DTC advertising, awareness of genetic testing may still be important
because without knowledge that these tests exist; individuals may not be able to use them. Langford
et al. (2012) investigated the racial and ethnic disparities in testing awareness using data collected in
HINTS 2007. Participants answered questions about their use of genetic testing and completed a
shortened version of the subjective numeracy

Deontological Paper
Deontological Paper
Marketing products, services, or even charities to the public has become a very powerful force in
our world. Millions of dollars are spent 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. "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 market to consumers on the condition that a great deal of
warning information was provided ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Using this Deontological approach we will look at the pharmaceutical advertising. As a free nation,
we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Furthermore, there is a moral
obligation for us to do what is right. From the corporate perspective, nearly all other businesses are
allowed to advertise. The purpose of advertising from a corporate perspective is to teach individuals
what their products offer the public so they can increase profit for the company. There are rules that
they have to follow to ensure the information is accurate. There is nobody forcing a purchase of the
drugs, it is mere information that is available to all public for their benefit. There is a choice that is
made by the public. They will either choose to purchase the drugs that will help them, or will not.
From the public perspective, they want to have access to the information that will help them lead a
better life regardless of who they are. Under the veil of ignorance, we should all be able to know and
understand every option that is available to us so that we can live happier and healthy lives.
Pharmaceutical products offer people a better way to live their lives no matter who you are. There
are drugs for arthritis that help people live better by reducing pain and increasing mobility; drugs for
helping people get a better night of sleep; drugs for

Advertising Prescription Drugs And The United States
If you have ever watched TV in America you are aware of "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 satisfied 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 that does. If the intent is to educate the prospective consumers about their product
then why do only two countries utilize the technique ("For Consumers")?
In 1938, the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) was authorized to start ... Show more content on
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During this time the first DTC print advertisement for Merck an "antipneumococcal vaccine,
Pneumovax(pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent) was printed in Reader's Digest (Ventola)." That
created a chain effect and shortly later "Boots Pharmaceuticals ran the first DTC broadcast
advertisement, which promoted the lower price of its prescription brand of ibuprofen (Rufen),
compared with Motrin (Ventola)." Today, the US pharmaceutical industry spends $3.1 billion on
advertising prescription drugs directly to consumers.
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)."
Are DTC prescription drug ads ethical? Immanuel Kant a German philosopher formulated a theory
of deontological approach to ethics. It was based on moral law. Moral law is the law "we choose to
follow or not, depending on whether we

Negative Effects Of Pharmaceutical Advertising
Think about how often you are watching your favorite show on television and all of a sudden you
are interrupted by a commercial. The commercial begins with the following words, "Do you suffer
with ..." and this question follows with the following sentence, "if so, then talk to your doctor about
... (the name of the medication that is being advertised)". These prescription drug advertisements are
being shown all over the United States multiple times a day. It is these advertisements that are used
for publicity and marketing that are affecting Americans. The majority of Americans engage in
watching television. The prescription drug advertisements do have a positive impact on Americans
but, these advertisements do more harm than good. Prescription drug advertisements have a negative
impact on Americans by causing them to become hypochondriacs in a certain way. A hypochondriac
is someone who believes and becomes obsessed with the idea that they have a serious condition that
was and is undiagnosed. This problem continues to have a negative affect because it can lead to
unnecessarily prescribing. Patients are going into their doctors and they are requesting to be put on
these drugs because of the great affects that they have heard that they do for them. In the article,
Direct–to–Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising, the author states that in a study done over this and
the results were that, when these request were made at about 40 percent of doctor visits and during
this time more

The Importance Of Direct-To-Consumer Advertising
doctors to prescribe these drugs which may not even truly be necessary for a patient. Whenever a
drug company develops a new product, pharmaceutical representatives meet with physicians to
explain the benefits and risks of the drug and encourage prescribing it for the specific ailment. In
regards to FDA guidelines, the relationship between physicians and pharmaceutical representatives
has been closely examined ("Pharmaceutical Industry"). As an article in the April issue of the New
England Journal of Medicine states about the concern of bribing doctors, "this promotion is an
ongoing concern, because several studies have indicated that it has a significant effect on the
physician prescribing behavior. Many pharmaceutical companies offer physicians ... Show more
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Many argue DTC advertising does not prevent future health problems by warning patients early on
with symptoms; rather it raises awareness to health problems they may not have. Additionally,
highlighting possible solutions in which patients are more likely to consult their physicians in an
interest of taking such medication ("Pharmaceutical Industry"). Direct to consumer advertising has
escalated throughout the past few years and drug marketers in 2014 spent $4.5 billion marketing
their prescription drugs to consumers, up from 3.5 billion in 2012 (Millman, 2015). This is a
significant increase since prescription drugs are now being advertised in every aspect of our daily
lives. Drugs such as Claritin for use of allergies, and Singulair for Asthma that have been
transformed from pedestrian to blockbuster drugs as part of DTC advertising (Lurie). Consumers
have many misconceptions associated with DTC Advertising. According to a survey, "50% believed
that DTC advertisements had to be pre–approved by the government and only 43% thought that only
"completely safe" drugs were allowed to be advertised" (Lurie). Our society misinterprets what can
be true and what is false, especially when it comes to DTC advertising. The study shows a major
concern and effect on overmedication because many believe that what is apparent to them, with
respect to DTC advertising must have been approved and proven

Direct-To-Consumer Drug Advertising
Bill Maher once mocked the aggressive nature of the drug advertisements that direct you to tell your
doctor that their drug is right for you. "Tell your doctor? Shouldn't your doctor tell you what drugs
you need. When you tell your doctor isn't he just a dealer at that point," said Bill Maher. The
American public generally trusts their government to protect them from the hidden dangers
prescription and over–the–counter drugs. However, that trust isn't fully warranted as the FDA has
been featured in the GAO report of "high risk" agencies which need drastic reforms. After all, the
FDA is in charge of regulating the shameless drug advertisements that inundate the airwaves.
New Zealand is the only other developed nation in the world where prescription drugs are advertised
directly to consumers. The American pharmaceutical industry used to abide by a term "ethical
marketing," meaning that drug companies could only market to physicians. On the other hand, there
is a valid argument for allowing direct–to–consumer drug advertisements as the flow of information
and transparency are beneficial. However, there obviously needs to be some checks and balances.
This experiment began with a print advertisement in 1981 in Reader's Digest and the first TV ad
took place in 1983. At that time, the FDA had several rules in place requiring companies to offer a
fair and balanced presentation. In sum, this was a responsible era of advertising.
However, the nature of direct–to–consumer drug

Direct-To-Consumer Advertising
From the Pharmaceutical industry perspective direct–to–consumer advertising builds a sense of trust
between consumer and drug manufactures; as well as providing consumers with knowledge of
illnesses and treatment options. The Pharmaceutical Companies feel that exposing viewers/readers
to a high level of symptoms it will prompt the consumers will create and open dialog with their
physicians about their health issues, due to the advertisement consumers are aware of side effects
allowing them under the guidance of a licensed physician make the best suitable drug option
(DeGeorge pg320).
Those that a oppose Pharmaceutical advertising feel the drug is not being represented in its entirety,
claiming that advertising down play the side effects and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is also the responsibility of the patient to ask questions and educate themselves on the drugs being
prescribed. Advertisement of any sort whether it demonstrates the benefit or a drug or something
else, advertisement bring awareness to consumers. The Pharmaceutical companies are bringing
awareness of diseases and disorders to the consumers who could potentially be unaware of their
existence. According to D. Brad Wright of the Huffington post Direct–to–consumer advertising may
even trigger a reminder for those patients already taking medications to take their medications or
even renew their prescriptions

Direct-To-Consumer Advertising Pros And Cons
Introduction
Thesis Statement
There are various controversies surrounding Direct–to–consumer prescription advertisements impact
on health, including its inference in the doctor–patient relationship, as well as its influence on
consumers lifestyle.
Summary of Direct–to–Consumer Advertising
DTC Ads were introduced following social movements advocating for patients rights to provide
patients with more options, and opportunities to detect their medical issues.
Proponents of prescription advertisements contend that they improve communication within the
healthcare system, and help educate people about potential risks.
Challengers of DTC marketing claim that they weaken the authority of doctors, and spread alarming
information.
Perceptions of health
Pros ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
By encouraging the use of pharmaceuticals, people will neglect other healthy, and/or cheaper
options, such as improving their lifestyle.
Doctor–patient relationship
Pros
The advertisements motivate consumers to seek guidance from their medical practitioner. The
knowledge consumers gain from DTC ads can provoke helpful conversations with their physicians.
Cons
When patients presents their symptoms in line a prescription drug, doctors often feel pressured to
prescribe their patients requested drug.
Because, an increase in the exposure of DTC pharmaceutical ads would increase the demand for the

drugs, there would be a considerable amount of unneeded prescriptions.
Drug marketing can lead to false diagnosis and the medication has potential to harm to the patient.
Target demographics and health effects
Target Audience
Because, women are typically in control of household spending on healthcare, they are targets of
prescription marketing campaigns.
Prescription ads frequently focus on the elderly, because they spend more time watching television,
and have more ailments.

Direct To Consumer Advertising Essay
The screen fades in, the actor is portrayed in black and white with solemn expression on his face, his
eyes pointed towards the ground as he speaks. Suddenly his "wife" walks up behind him and rubs
his back, she suggests that he has a problem as a pharmaceutical name pops onto the screen.
Promotion of pharmaceuticals to consumers is referred to as direct–to–consumer (DTC) advertising.
In the United States, pharmaceutical suppliers are now the leading communicator of health
information to the mass public. Whereas the FDA does oversee the distribution of such media, the
question of consumer competency raises concern. Those who support these advertisements suggest
the information is beneficial to the consumer. Such advertising does provide crucial ... Show more
Whether in a magazine or a television commercial, one of the utmost used phrases in a DTC
pharmaceutical advertisement is the phrase, "Contact your doctor to find out more information".
Consequently, supporters reason direct–to–consumer advertising encourages the patient to contact a
physician, thus promoting beneficial patient– provider communication (Ventola 672). In the age of
technology, it is easy to type in symptoms and be met with an ill fate. The wide publication of these
advertisements does what pharmaceutical companies set out to do, they inform. In a recent study, it
was found that the majority of those surveyed (56 percent) responded that they read the
pharmaceutical advertisement completely and felt like they understood it. The percentage for those
who spoke later to their health care provider was a relatively lower thirty–five percent. Wilkes states
that the misinterpretation rate is not knowingly any higher than those who understand. His research
corresponds with the notion do the benefits outweigh the negatives? With his research he claims that
by using means of DTC pharmaceutical advertisements, the pharmaceutical companies are
educating us as a population and giving us better understanding (Wilkes

Essay about Deontological Advertising
Depending on one's perspective or level of awareness, the term consumerism might take on a variety
of meanings. One thing is quite certain, however, we Americans enjoy consuming and more so,
doing it conveniently. 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 framework,
that I will examine the ethical fabric of direct pharmaceutical marketing to consumers.
In the age of information, we are no longer limited to television and ... Show more content on
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Let us visit the tenets by which Immanuel Kant, a deontological philosopher, outlined his approach
to morals in terms of decisions and acts. In his theory, Kant proposed an objective way of coming to
an ethical answer to common "should I do it or, not" dilemmas. His method, which he termed the
categorical imperative, was at the root of his moral philosophy (Johnson). In it, he outlined his three
maxims by which to measure a proposed act. These were universality, by which an act faced
scrutiny in answering whether the act would survive all persons doing it all the time. Would the
world succumb as a result? If considered acceptable one would then accept the act. The second
maxim involves us treating humans as ends as opposed to means. Kant's second maxim would have
us prevent malfeasance and manipulation of humans as a means to an end. The third maxim was the
ultimate test. In contends that one must act as if one is the highest moral authority in the world. And,
as such, the ultimate burden of acting moral, regardless of consequence, would rest on us
(Kemerling). With this in mind, overlaying direct marketing to consumers upon this theory should
shed light on some questions behind the ethics of pharmaceutical companies.
In the 1980's, drug companies were banned from advertising prescription drugs to consumers. That
same decade brought changes in these regulations allowing companies to advertise, mostly in

Direct To Consumer Advertising (DTCA)
In conclusion, Direct to Consumer Advertising or DTCA, is a controversial method of advertising
used to inform consumers about drug information. Due to this controversy, there are many opinions
concerning how much DTCA should be regulated. For the past few decades, opinions about
regulations has changed greatly. After considering the benefits and concerns regarding DTCA, we
decided to take a legislative approach to DTCA. We came to this conclusion because DTCA is
regulated by the FDA. Our goal was to take the first step towards banning DTCA. As a group, we
acknowledged the fact that we can't ban DTCA all together, but it was possible to get the word out
and put the initial stages of a plan into action. We wrote advocacy letters for our legislatures

Summary: Direct To Consumer Advertising
Healthcare professionals look to the past research studies regarding direct to consumer
advertisement (DTCA) for insight as to how to deal with patients. There have been studies that
measured the patient's behavior, the patient–physician relationship, and interpersonal
communication, as it pertains to office visits encounters, most of which include socio–demographic
analysis. More recently, researchers are starting once again to focus their attention on the
progression of the interactive development between the patient and physician because the decision–
making process is the focal point of what patient expect from clinicians. The literature reviewed in
this study includes primary research and secondary analysis, which include different methods either
hand survey and or via telephone. To begin, A Study of Consumer Attitudes and Behavioral
Intentions, 288 respondents answered questioners about their behavior when visiting their doctor.
The had any associating with prescriptions ads commercials and if so what was the outcome of their
visit. The finding shows that the drug ads influenced the patients and found that they are more aware
of their ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
That these ads empower the patient with interpersonal communication with their caretaker, who in
turn makes the patient feel vested because they become partakers in the decision–making process of
their desired treatment. The researchers suggest that due to a more engaged patient and an
established relationship between the patients and doctor that these patients are described to be better
off healthwise. The same study showed that out of the 329 surveyed, more than half were taking an
advertised prescription medication. The authors of this study suggest that additional government
oversight can improve the DTCA educational

The Unethical Impacts of Direct to Consumer Drug Advertising
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 ... Show more content on
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As we all know, Viagra is prescribed as a form of treatment for erectile dysfunction in men (Findlay
p42). This drug also has a very bad side effect, causing hypertension in the pulmonary artery. What's
bad about this drug amongst many others is that people tend to focus on the positive attributes of a
drug than the very bad side effects that can be present (Findlay p42).
This type of marketing is said to effecting patient–doctor relationships because of the unethical
prescribing practices, which in turn is causes a lot of losses. DTCA is heavily affecting doctors–
patient relationship through increasing unethical prescription leading to great losses. In order to –
doctor relationships, there needs to be an effective campaign focusing on in depth communication
between the doctors and patients. If there is a good relationship between a doctor and his/her patient,
it would be easier to make decisions medicating correctly and accurately. Medical advisory boards
have worked to resolve issues in the process in regards to information provided to the media then
onto the patients, should serve the marketing and the provision of medical information. Also,
information should be in full when its purpose it to improve and strengthen the doctor– patient
relationship (Relman ppp28–34).
In the various industries (pharmaceutical, advertising, regulatory and medical) the effect of direct to
consumer advertising has a varied negative/positive effect depending on

Summary: Direct To Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising
Introduction
If you consume almost any form of media you will notice many different advertisements that inform
you to ask your doctor if a certain pharmaceutical is right for you. You are inundated with
advertisements for sleep aids, sexual disfunction drugs, drugs to treat depression, and weight loss
pharmaceuticals. Even if you don't watch TV, or read magazines, or even spend time online,
billboards appear frequently in large cities and along the freeways that claim to want to make you a
better you. The truth is pharmaceutical advertisements are everywhere. Well, that's not entirely true.
Direct to consumer pharmaceutical advertisements (DTCPA) are only allowed in two developed
countries; The United States and New Zealand. Why is that? ... Show more content on
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Arrow. Arrow argued that this is due to many factors, especially those of an information gap
between those in the industry and their consumers, and the high risk involved. The fact the patients
can not fully understand the options available to them, and therefore can not assess the risks
involved, medical care can not be treated as, say, a cell phone, or a restaurant. The rights associated
with free–market economics is largely based on the idea that humans have the underlying right to
use their best rational judgement when participating in the market. However, as Selma J. Mushkin
put it about the healthcare

Deontological Paper
MGMT 368 Business Ethics
Week 4 Deontological Second Paper
April 15, 2012
Direct–to–consumer drug advertising – Deontological Point ofView
For many years, consumers relied and depended on the expertise and knowledge of physicians to
make decisions on their pharmaceutical needs. Before 1985, prescription drugs could not be
advertised directly to consumers. The U.S Food and Drug Administration passed a rule that allowed
Direct–to–consumer drug advertising in 1985. This ruling was passed on the condition that warning
information was provided about side effects and other dangers. "Directto– consumer advertising is
the promotion of prescription drugs through newspaper, magazine, television, and internet
marketing. Drug companies also ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When the advertisements are viewed by patients,it encourages people to contact their doctor similar
symptoms, it is the physician's duty to make a accurate diagnosis and give a prescription only if it is
needed. The physician's motive should be to treat the patient to the best of their ability with effective
medicines.
On the contrary, the argument would be that because the drugs have serious side effects that require
a prescription, it should be up to physicians on whether the medicines is best for the patient.
"Broadcast advertising creates false impressions about effectiveness and downplays downplays
possible adverse effects. Such advertising leads to self–diagnosis." (DeGeorge
Richard ) Patients then pressure physician's for the acceptable, popular drugs, and physician's often
give in to the pressure to satisfy them, even though it is not a well–informed choice.
"Seeing the ads on TV increases patients trust in them when they are prescribed by their doctors, and
simple name recognition makes the drugs more acceptable." (DeGeorge Richard ) This makes
treatment determinations difficult for physician. As there could be other drugs, not being advertised,
that would work best for the patient. However is the the duty of the physician to use their expertise
and knowledge of the patients condition to

Advertisements For Anti Anxiety Medication
After the attack on the world trade center, anxiety was very much a thing in New York City. As
advertisements for anti–anxiety medication began to pop up on the streets and television networks,
notice was taken. Direct–to–consumer pharmaceutical advertisements have the ability to encourage
people to seek medical attention for conditions/symptoms that could otherwise go unnoticed
(Mintzes 908). In an area so stricken by anxiety such as a traumatic event, symptoms may very
easily go unnoticed, as they are in the majority of the population. Advertisements that target the
public and explain the symptoms and reasons behind these feelings, once again have the ability to
educate consumers. An educated consumer is more likely to speak to their doctor about a condition
or a medication. The proponents of direct–to–consumer pharmaceutical advertisements focus largely
on educating the consumer and patient–provider communication. 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

Summary: Direct-To-Consumer Advertising
Direct–to–consumer advertising, or otherwise known as DTC advertising, is a form of advertising
that directs its attention towards patients. Sometimes, DTC advertising refers to how pharmaceutical
products are marketed. In chapter two of Drugs For Life – How Pharmaceutical Companies Define
Our Health, Joseph Dumit describes how these DTC advertisements become a lucrative way of
exploiting patients. In a world of ongoing mass pharmaceutical consumption, if merchants are able
to persuade Americans to go to a doctor and request a prescription, "the marginal profits could
potentially become more than enough to cover advertising costs." (Dumit 56). Essentially, Dumit
focuses on how grammar and certain images, produced by DTC advertisements, are successful in
generating concern and anxiety, which in response drives people to seek medical ... Show more
The commercial simply features general questions and facts such as, "Are you sleeping too much or
too little? Depression strikes one in eight. These can be signs of clinical depression" (Dumit 58).
The way these questions and facts are being addressed becomes a medical algorithm in which its
purpose is to draw users in thinking they are possibly suffering from a serious disease. The
algorithm gives a new possibility and paves the way of uncertainty. Dumit then explains that some
DTC advertisements enact a "classical anthropological rite of passage: a concept in which people
end one stage of life and entry into another, e.g. puberty, marriage, or death" (Dumit 73). The
subject is you, the viewer, and these DTC advertisements tell you that what you are feeling is a real
symptom; you fall into emotion, wishing for hope at the price of taking pharmaceutical drugs.
"Those ads can give us hope and help us identify positive steps to take. They motivate us to talk
with our doctors about subjects we find embarrassing" (Dummit

Direct-To-Consumer Drug Advertising: Ethical Or Not?
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 on Helpwriting.net ...
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, "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 "reasonably
expected to be to everyone's advantage" and are the advantages "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 is

Dell Ad Campaign Essay
Dell Ad Campaign
The biggest area of expansion for Dell is the consumer market. In order to develop more sales in this
market Dell needs to focus more advertising on the needs and wants of the consumer. Currently Dell
promotes its direct model, which is a key factor Dell needs to create a better position for itself in the
consumer market. With all of the PCs in the market being more or less equal, Dell needs to focus on
what differentiates its products from the competition, namely service and support.
The advertising campaign need to focus on the emotions of the PC users as oppose to merely their
logical side. With a strong emotional ad campaign focusing on the anxieties and fears of the
consumers when it comes to making the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There are a few different strategies that can be used in this stage. The first is to enter new segments
and to distribute through new channels. A second is to offer new products or services and to
diversify the product mix. A third option strategy is to offer more line extensions on current
products, in the case of the PC possibly the AMD chip as opposed to the Intel chip. Fourth, Dell
needs to utilize more specific advertising campaigns to promote their products and maintain their
position.
As the market stands now there are fewer and fewer non–users and with the current life of a PC the
replacement time frame is becoming shorter and shorter. Overall, the strongest recommendation is
for Dell to focus on winning the competitors' customers. With Dell's proven satisfaction ratings as
seen in the study mentioned above, Dell has the service and support as well as the commitment to
fulfill the dissatisfaction of the competitions' customers.
Dell should also consider entering new channels. Despite the failure in 1997, the retail market has
seen significant changes and may now be ready for a direct solution. With Gateway opening the
Gateway Country Stores and the new alliance with OfficeMax, Dell has a possible model to look at.
The retail channel could be what Dell needs to improve their representation in the consumer market.
Dell does have a strong brand and with

Essay about Direct To Consumer Pharmacuetical Advertising
The Misleading Truth About Pharmaceutical Advertisements
Is a patient at liberty 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 are again. Listen to the radio, congratulations, you've found another ad
for the latest prescription drug. Rush down to your local ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
If no one needs it, no one will buy it. Is this an industry that should be allowed to create this type of
demand?
To fully understand the suggestiveness in these ads, you have to look at what they imply. In a
magazine ad for Effexor, a drug for depression or generalized anxiety disorder, it clearly states in
large wording, "I got my playfulness back." There is a picture of a woman holding her baby and the
wording is in handwriting as if she was the one who wrote it. In the ad she is looking just as playful
as the baby in diapers. It makes you think, are you as playful as that baby? You must have
depression, as nothing else could possibly explain your sudden loss of child–like playfulness. It is
ads like this that are the most disturbing. I think it is relatively established that any normal
functioning adult will mature with age. But this ad targets anyone who has grown into a mature,
normal adult and stamps it as depression. If this wasn't bad enough, it gets worse.
In a magazine ad for Celexa, another drug for depression, it clearly states in large print "For
depression, Celexa, effective first line therapy with a favorable side–effect profile." It goes on to list
four favorable aspects of the drug. On the back, they are forced by the FDA to list the drug's adverse
effects. There is an entire page in three or four point print arranged in three columns speaking of the
drugs adverse

Direct-To-Consumer Advertising (DTCA) Of Prescription Drugs
Do you feel guilty? Have a recent loss of interest in things you normally enjoy? Unexplained weight
gain or weight loss? Trouble getting up in the morning? Do you notice that for no reason you start
crying? Slowness in activity or thought? If so, you may be suffering from depression. Sound
familiar? It's just missing one thing, the name of the drug that's going to alleviate depression signs
and symptoms, and a long list of adverse reactions. This kind of marketing is known as Direct–To–
Consumer Advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs. Every day the public is exposed to constant
advertisements promising that this drug is the answer to their ills and ailments; all they need to do is
ask their doctor if this drug is right for them. Consumers

Direct-To-Consumer Advertising On The Internet Negatively...
Argument Essay Reflection "Direct–to–Consumer Advertising on the internet negatively affects
Americans consumer" is the title of my expository essay which I was excited about writing.
Throughout my years in college, I had written an expository essay before where I enjoyed the
research process. Therefore, I find that the research process is essential in my process in writing the
expository essay with a strong thesis. However, I find that I still have to do some improvement at
forming my ideas together in order to communicate effectively with others. My thought process of
writing the expository essay was interesting because I had to do research through a database and
carefully selected the articles that best support my thesis. Therefore, I prioritized the different tasks
relating to the assignment by analyzing which tasks are essential to complete the expository essay in
the best way possible. For example, the logic behind the prioritization was to have a topic, do some
research in the topic in order to narrow my issue, then search on the databases for articles, review
the reliability of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Then, I selected three subtopics that responded to and supported my thesis. Then, I assembled the
three subtopics in three body paragraphs, each paragraph focused in one subtopic. Likewise, the use
of produce–then–assemble technique helped me to develop my thesis question by writing about the
three main subtopics and then using them to respond to my thesis question. Furthermore, the process
of gathering evidence was complicated because the evidence to use in the expository essay has to
meet the requirements of being reliable and proveing my thesis. Moreover, the quote integration and
full source identification were complicated because the citations have to meet the MLA
requirements in order to avoid

Direct To Consumer Advertising Effects
Pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars advertising pharmaceutical drugs to consumers,
medical journals, and healthcare providers. In fact, according to Mahon's publication "Impact of
Direct–To–Consumer Advertising on Healthcare Providers and Consumers," for every one dollar
that pharmaceutical companies spent on advertising, the sales quadrupled to a shocking $4.20 (417).
What is even more frightening, is that this extremely profitable return on advertisements is
continuing to grow as pharmaceutical companies are increasing their spending on advertisements.
As Fottler, Ford, and Heaton point out in the book "Achieving Service Excellence: Strategies for
Healthcare," the pharmaceutical industry is very competitive, so in order ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This advertising method is directed at healthcare providers rather than consumers, as is the case in
direct–to–consumer advertising. This method of pharmaceutical advertising is equally as concerning
because as reported by Weeks, Wallace, and Kimberly in the article "The Changing Face of
Pharmaceutical Advertising," healthcare providers "control more than 80% of healthcare
expenditures" with their power to write prescription medication (27). Pharmaceutical companies
understand this relationship and thus, aggressively advertise to healthcare providers through medical
journals and magazines. The pharmaceutical advertisements to healthcare providers is problematic
because as D'Arcy and Moynihan notes in her article "Can the Relationship between Doctors and
Drug Companies Ever Be a Healthy One?" there is a direct conflict of interest between the two
parties. Pharmaceutical companies are businesses that want to "maximize profit" while the goal of a
healthcare provider is to "provide the best care possible for patients" (1). There is an outlandish
amount of pharmaceutical advertising that healthcare providers are exposed to as they peruse
medical journals and magazines. The immense power that these advertisements hold on the
prescribing behavior and beliefs of healthcare providers coupled with the high volume of
advertisements is a dauntingly influential

Essay about Advertising Ethics
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
control the prescriptions: the patient or the doctor?
Take the drug Prozac for our first example: it's in rock lyrics, magazines, books and billboards. I
don't think there are too many people who have not heard of it or that ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Prozac commercials let these people know that a (fairly) effective treatment exists, and also reduce
the stigma attached to seeking help for mental troubles".(Vol.344)
Since the European government pays for most prescription drugs they oppose the direct to consumer
advertising for the fear it will cause an increase in drug pricing. Of course the companies that market
whiskey and cigarettes are free to go on but the advertising for a heart pill cannot.
So, do doctors want direct to consumer ads bring them more patients? That is the topic in the
November 1999 publication of The Medical Post. The story began of a patient who saw an
advertisement on television about a drug for obesity. The ad went as far as listing the dangerous side
effects of the drug such as heart disease or stroke but all the consumer could think about was getting
off a few extra pounds.
As a result of this ad, the doctor had to spend an extra ten minutes with the patient to tell her why it
was unsafe for her to take the drug. The same conversation has
been shared with many more patients causing delays in the waiting room and having an unhappy
patient. This can lead to the patient seeking another doctor in hope of getting a prescription for the
drug.
The

Direct To Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising
Ever since the legalization of direct–to–consumer pharmaceutical advertising in 1985, drug
companies have grown and greatly increased their spending, making this the most popular type of
health communication to the general public. From 1996 to 2005, the total amount of spending on
pharmaceutical advertisements increased by 3252 million dollars and the percentage of drug sales
increased by 1.4 percent (New England Journal of Medicine). This positive increase in sales is why
the United States allows for these advertisements to be aired, they bring in revenue and as people
become more sick, they will continue to buy more drugs and increase the revenue. However, even
with all this spending, after observing hours of television on three different channels, I found it
surprising on the limited amounts of pharmaceutical advertisements that were presented. For the
network CBS, there were three drug advertisements, for CNN there were four and for the network
AMC, there were only two of the same commercial. This trend shows how different airing times
affect different populations of people. I watched CNN at 11:30 in the morning, a more common ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In all of the ads that I saw, the people presented were all adult, white, and working individuals who
seemed to be living in well–off conditions. Even the depression commercials focused on wealthy
white adults, although depression has been found to be more prevalent among minorities (American
Journal of Public Health). Based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
non–Hispanic white persons are more likely to take antidepressants than persons of any other race,
with a percentage of 13.6 for non–Hispanic white compared to 6.6 percent for non–Hispanic black
and Mexican American (NCHS). The pharmaceutical companies seem to only be reaching out to a
certain population versus everyone as a

Regulatory Changes in Direct-To-Consumer Marketing of...
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 ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
The third and most common type is the "product claim ad," which mentions the product and its
indication and includes efficacy or safety claims." (Ventola, Toxic par 3). These types of ads proved
to be confusing and misleading for consumers. As Greene describes in "Hidden in Plain Sight",
"Over the course of the 1990s, resulting television and radio advertisements took on a surreal,
disconnected quality, exemplified by the division of marketing for Schering–Plough's nonsedating
antihistamine Claritin (loratidine): one set of advertisements praised promising new developments in
antiallergy remedies but did not mention Claritin, while others featured the pill and its logo and
promised "blue skies" without explaining what, in therapeutic terms, that might mean."The FDA
reacted to concerns over confusing DTC prescription drug ads by issuing final guidance in 1999,
which relaxed previous regulations and redefined "adequate provision" of risks and benefits to
include reference to a toll–free number or web site. (Greene, Hidden, par 34). The result of the
relaxed regulations was an explosion of DTC pharmaceutical advertising in broadcast media. DTC
rulings would be relaxed yet again in 2004, which saw the removal of the requirement to include
complete prescribing information, instead requiring only a "simplified brief summary." Ventola says
"this change allowed pharmaceutical companies to present

Direct-To-Consumer Advertising
3. The marketing tactics in the case include payments, gifts and other financial lures to doctors and
government officials, off–label uses of drugs, overpricing of the drugs resulting in the higher costs
of Medicaid and Medicare programs and false advertisement. All of these marketing tactics have
resulted from the desire to increase revenue and profits for the firm. Although the main focus of a
business is to maximize profits, these marketing methods have resulted in harm to the society and
have resulted in unethical behavior. The direct–to–consumer advertisements can be justified to an
extent. Through this the industry educates the public about various drugs and their benefits, it could
help educate the general population, and in a world ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There are various ethical principles which are violated by the company's marketing tactics. Giving
away free gifts to young doctors violates virtue and character. Such practices make these young
doctors dishonest right from the beginning, before their career has even started and the oath taken to
help everyone in need is broken when the doctors prescribe wrong drugs to their patients. Bribing
government officials and the excessive lobbying also violates ethics, character, and virtue. Human
rights are also violated through the marketing methods of big pharma. Right to information and right
to health and safety are clearly ignored when the companies make false advertisements and push
their drugs for off–label uses. Companies hide the truth about their research and continue to use their
drugs by manipulating the consumers, doctors etc. When the companies overprice their drugs, they
violate ethical principle of justice where equality is observed. As a result of overpricing the drugs,
the government pays more for the Medicaid and Medicare programs thus reducing the budget for
others in need. The marketing and advertising methods are clearly meant to increase the bottom–line
and thus benefit only the shareholders. Other stakeholders are not given equal importance.
According to the utilitarian principle, the benefits should exceed the costs; the benefits in the case of
big pharma are an increased margin of profits and higher revenues. The costs include risk of public
health,

DTCA Case Studies
2– Gaining knowledge and comprehension: A majority of patients feel that DTCA gives them
enough information to decide whether to discuss a drug with their doctor (the 2002 FDA survey
reported 86 percent).Foley and Gross (2000) found that 49 percent of adults who saw DTCA felt
that it provided enough information to let them know what the drug was for and 50 percent felt there
was enough information on risks and side effects. Wilkes et al. (2000, p. 112) found that half of the
patients surveyed believed incorrectly that DTCA required government approval before
advertisements could be used and that only completely safe drugs could be advertised.
Awareness, trial and reinforcement or ART theory referred that the three main steps that account for
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
2006) and also increase patient's right to take a proactive and informed role in their health and
treatment decisions (Keja, 2011).
Gilbody et al. (2011) found that DTCA is associated with increased prescription of advertised
products and there is substantial impact on patients' request for specific drugs and physicians'
confidence in prescribing and mentioned that Liu and Gupta (2011) stated also that DTCA
expenditure has a positive and long–term effect on physician visits. Recent study provide an
evidence that positive feelings produced by images from DTCA can promote favorable beliefs about
pharmaceuticals as participants who viewed positive images rated drugs as significantly more
effective, safe, and beneficial than did participants who viewed negative images and that support the
idea of "feeling is believing (Biegler P & Vargas P,

Summary: Deontological Approach To Ethics
Deontological Second Paper
A deontological approach to ethics denies the utilitarian claim that the morality of an action depends
on its consequences. Actions are morally right or wrong, independent of their consequences. It is
associated with the Judeo–Christian tradition, primarily the Ten Commandments. (pg. 62) Is direct–
to–consumer advertising of pharmaceutical drugs ethical? Does the advertising lead to self–
diagnosis or take advantage of someone's hope for a cure?
I do not believe that direct–to–consumer advertising of pharmaceutical drugs is unethical. I also do
not believe that the advertising leads to self–diagnosis or that it takes advantage of someone's hope
for a cure. First, I believe it facilitates better discussions with patients. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Also, direct–to–consumer advertising can help to remove the shame that accompanies diseases that
in the past were rarely discussed, such as erectile dysfunction or depression. A study that evaluated
diagnosis as a result of direct–to–consumer advertising found 25% of patients that initiated a clinical
visit due to direct–to–consumer advertising exposure, received a new diagnosis of which almost half
were considered high priority. These conditions included reflux disease, arthritis, diabetes, and high
cholesterol. For chronic diseases, especially those with high prevalence that can be treated with
prescription drugs, the consequences of not seeking appropriate treatment can affect not only the
patient, but also the family and society. For example, untreated diabetes can lead to blindness or
chronic kidney disease. Non treated high cholesterol can lead to heart attack or stroke, while
cholesterol–lowering drugs can reduce risk by 30% approximately. Direct–to–consumer advertising
encourages members of the public, particularly those of low socioeconomic status, who may not
receive regular medical check–ups, to seek medical care. It encourages people to disclose health
concerns to their doctor, and enhances some patients' sense of confidence and

Taking a Look at Marketing Strategies
It is defined as paid form of non personal communication about an organisation, service, product, or
idea by an identified sponsor. Public service announcement, which has an sporadic exception whose
advertising space or time is provided by media. Advertisement involves with mass media is referred
as no personal component which transport a massage to large group of peoples, often at the same
time, for instance TV, radio, magazines, newspapers. Non personal component means there will be
no opportunity for quick feedback from the message recipient, so the advertiser must know how the
audience will interpret and respond to it, only before the message to be sent. Advertising is famous
and widely spread and discussed form of promotion because of its omnipresentness. It is the main
prominent promotional tool particularly for companies whose products are targeted at mass
consumer markets. It is the most cost effective method for communicating with large audience.
Advertising will be used to improve brand images and symbolic call for a company or brand. This is
an important opportunity for companies selling products that are difficult to differentiate on practical
ascribes. Other plus point of advertising is its capability to hit a responsive chord with customers
when distinction across other tools of marketing mix is difficult to achieve. Good and popular
advertising campaigns can sometimes be influenced into successful integrated marketing
communication programs. The way and

Direct Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising : Looking For...
Direct–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 "ask your doctor if such–and–such drug is right for you", and its possible
consequences has recently come under scrutiny. This aspect of pharmaceutical advertising is
controversial in that opposing parties disagree on whether or not it is truly a problem. Supporters of
the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, the American Medical Association (AMA) has called for a ban on DTC advertising for
drugs and medical devices. Physicians in the association raised concerns about the growing costs
associated with increased DTC advertising. According to the AMA press release, in the last two
years spending on advertising by drug companies has increased by 30 percent. This, combined with
anticompetitive behaviors of companies (ex: trying to re–patent the same drug for slightly different
symptoms), may contribute to the rising prices of drugs, according to the report. The rising prices, in
turn, create yet another problem for doctors and patients; in cases of generic brand options, the
brand–name drug might be much more costly but not significantly more effective. For drugs for
which the manufacturer holds the only patent, high prices have the potential to prevent or discourage
people from receiving the best and necessary treatment. For this reason, the AMA created a policy to
help consumers. To achieve this, the AMA plans for an advocacy campaign to raise support for
competition and fair choice in the industry as well as more price transparency for each drug. The
AMA also calls for better enforcement by federal regulators of existing regulations. Lastly, the AMA
will study the interactions between pharmaceutical companies, specifically mergers and
acquisitions, and the effects on drug prices. The AMA's new policy aims to encourage a balance

Direct To Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising
0036 Methods and Analysis Pharmaceutical companies use direct to consumer advertisement to
present their drug as effective by means of promotional visuals, symbols and language that appeal to
women and attract a large customer base. I want to know if women are the targeted for prescription
drugs on television commercials, video commercials on the internet and magazines, also known as
in direct to consumer pharmaceutical advertisement. If so, I would like to see the effects this has on
not only women but the public's perception of women and pharmaceutical drugs that treat diseases,
specifically mental health diseases. So far I have collected peer–reviewed journals and made my
own observations. The peer–reviewed journals I have collected include

Direct To Consumer Advertising
To begin the those who support direct to consumer advertising claim that this method educates
consumers and allows them to take charge of their health. Their strongest argument for direct to
consumer advertising is that "informing consumers will benefit the drive for health care reform"
(Delbaere). Delbaere also suggests that consumers can benefit from theses ads by having access to
different information sources about drugs and other treatment options rather than relying solely on
health care providers. (more info/ research)
Although direct to consumer advertising may educate patients, it also has the ability to misinform
them. One common complaint is that direct to consumer advertising omits important information.
For example, in one study,

Direct-To-Consumer Advertising Ethics
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 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This theory supersedes the utilitarian theory because the motivations behind human actions precede
the actual human deeds. This means that some actions might be motivated by evil intentions, yet
they might have good consequences. Such consequences might be considered ethical under
utilitarianism, but they are not as the actual intention was based on evil. This leads to the conclusion
that the utilitarian ethical theory is inferior to the Kantian ethical theory, which judges the morality
of a person's or organization's actions on the actual intentions. Therefore, given that the primary
motivation behind the actions of most drug manufacturers is to maximize their profits and not the
health of consumers, which generally comes second, one can safely conclude that their
advertisements are unethical. The answer to the utilitarian ethical theory has been provided in the
many reported incidents of patients who have self–medicated their illnesses, which had negative
results for the patients. Finally, the arguments provided in this paper have proven that the motivation
behind pharmaceutical advertisements is not in the best interests of the consumer and as such the
advertisements should be considered unethical and banned from mass media

Should Pharmaceutical Companies Use Direct For Consumer...
Should Pharmaceutical Companies Use Direct to Consumer Advertising?
For most people hearing or seeing the advertisement first hand, has become commonplace. Direct to
Consumer (DTC) advertising is one way pharmaceutical drug companies get their message to just
about everyone, not to mention consumers. Whether direct to consumer advertisement harms or
helps is unknown, since the effectiveness of the advertisement is also unknown. Though, regulated
by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the advertisement of drugs is largely left up to the
consumer to decide if they should believe the information presented is, first off reliable and
secondly, if they should seek further information. That information, usually comes from the
knowledge of a physician. However, with information at their fingertips through online sources,
some delve in on their own efforts. In this report, DTC advertisement is questioned: of its
effectiveness and of its usefulness. The reasons why both doctors and consumer think DTC
advertisement is available and should this form of advertisement continue to be allowed in the
public? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for all direct–to–consumer
pharmaceutical advertising (DTCPA) and there is both the positive and adverse reasons doctors,
consumers, and patients either agree or disagree when it comes to how they get their information.
Beginning in 1938, when the Act passed in the U.S. the FDA was given the right to regulate
pharmaceutical

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs
Direct–to–Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs: Direct–to–consumer advertisements of
prescription drugs have become common aspects in today's 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, advertising has become an important aspect for survival and growth in
the health care outlets. For many health care outlets, television is regarded as the most efficient way
for advertising in the pharmaceutical marketplace. While there are considerations on whether
prescription drugs should be advertised to the general public, it's important to note that health care
consumers should make their own choices. Direct–to–consumer advertising of prescription drugs
has attracted several controversies, especially from people opposed to it. Some of the major
arguments that have been raised include the possibility of the advertising to be a blatant
manipulation of the public, the huge potential benefits to pharmaceutical companies and significant
damages to the health care system. However, direct–to–consumer advertising of prescriptions drugs
should be carried out properly because the advantages of this measure outweigh its disadvantages.
One of the major reasons for the advertisement of

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