Healthy Skepticism Library item: 622

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Holm S, Evans M.
Product names, proper claims? More ethical issues in the marketing of drugs.
BMJ 1996 Dec 21-28; 313:(7029):1627-9
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/313/7072/1627

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the explicit or implicit claims embodied in the proprietatry names of pharmaceutical products. DESIGN: Linguistic and ethical analysis of proprietary names of pharmaceutical products marketed in the UK and in Denmark. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A number of drugs have names that allude to their indication or actions. Such names may be problematic, however, because they often promise more than the drug can deliver. Taking into account, firstly, the type of allusion and its degree of sophistication, and, secondly, the seriousness of the indication may help in identifying the most problematic drug names.

Keywords:
*linguistic analysis United Kingdom Denmark drug names quality of information ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: DRUG NAME PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: DRUG NAME