Healthy Skepticism Library item: 603

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

Peppin JF.
Pharmaceutical sales representatives and physicians: ethical considerations of a relationship.
J Med Philos 1996 Feb; 21:(1):83-99

Abstract:

Since their appearance in 1850, Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives (PSR) interactions with physicians have engendered intense emotional responses. The controversy has continued unabated since that time. Arguments in favor of the moral impermissibility of the PSR-physician relationship can be divided into four general categories; (1) influence, (2) patients pay but they do not choose, (3) violation of principlism, and (4) the erosion of the patient-physician relationship. None of the arguments that have thus far been proposed against the moral permissibility of these interactions gives sufficient warrant to avoid them (or pursue them). It may be the case that PSR-physician interactions place the patient-physician relationship in jeopardy. This would constitute enough warrant, from a pragmatic perspective, to shun such relationships. However, no research supports this contention. A careful evaluation of the literature leaves one ambivalent at best.

Keywords:
*analysis sales representatives bioethics agency role doctor-patient relationship EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DETAILING INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP