American Medical Ethics

1.1. Background: It is well known that pharmaceutical companies offer various gifts and incentives to physicians to prescribe their drugs. What are the advantages and positive aspects of this collaboration? And what are the negative aspects? Are the doctors really influenced? Does this influence affect prescribing proper drugs for patients? Can this interaction lead to a biased decision for therapy? In which limit are these interactions ethically and lawfully approved? Is receiving incentives ethically justified? When does it fall into the criteria of bribe or kickback? What are the doctors’ views regarding this issue? Are they aware of the guidelines about this concern? All these questions are knocking the mind of scholars for many years. But the answers change time to time, person to person and, place to place. There is a complex relation between physicians and pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical companies offer various gifts, incentives, sponsor CME (Continuing medical education), and provide notepad, pens, and samples in many countries worldwide. The approach somehow can influence the decision of physicians in the treatment of patients which is based on trust and reliability, driven by physicians’ autonomy. Many countries like the United Sates have restrictions by law upon physician- pharmaceutical interactions. (1, 2) American Medical …show more content…
Properly determined attitude of the medical students can give recommendations for the future. The scenario can be highlighted and compared with the previous studies. Faculties of medical colleges will be facilitated to teach the students about this interaction. We will be able to predict the negative and positive effects of physician-pharmacist collaboration in the future more easily. Negative aspects can be limited and positive aspects can be promoted. National and international ethical policies can be revised based on the