The Ethics of Relationships between Physicians and Pharmaceuticals
Valencia Cave, Holly Costanzo, Sean McCart, Josh Mosholder
Towson University
Dr. Michael Kim is new to the profession of being a doctor. He is a hard working pediatrician with the health of his patients at the front of his mind. But when a pharmaceutical company, Apativ, come to him with a new drug, Paxaflora, that could save a patient’s life (yet has possible side effects), he is at an impasse. The pharmaceutical gives him gifts like golf clubs and nice dinners. And his boss, Dr. Grey pressures him to prescribe the drug. Dr. Kim does think that the drug could really help patients like Alex. He has been waiting for a new heart for the last two years. And Paxaflora could keep him going longer. But his …show more content…
In this particular case, he must decide what is best for everyone involved in the situation.
One of the choices Dr. Kim can make is to prescribe Paxaflora because it will do more good than harm. Ultimately it could help Alex and his family. The Utilitarian approach from the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics is a form of moral reasoning when an individual decides to choose the greatest balance of goods over harms of everyone affected. In the case of Dr. Kim, he should choose to indeed prescribe Paxaflora to his patient Alex. This particular approach allows for one to have a more straightforward method of deciding what the outcome will be. According to the Markkula Center, “Utilitarianism does not care whether the benefits are produced by lies, manipulation, or coercion.” (Velasquez, 1989). With that statement being said, Dr. Kim does not put into thought of the patient’s needs when deciding upon his decision. A good question to ask is, who will benefit the most out of the situation? By prescribing this new drug it will help educate more doctors about it. Dr. Kim’s boss has standards to look up to in order to continue being paid by Apativ. Dr. Kim would not want
Valencia Cave, Holly Costanzo, Sean McCart, Josh Mosholder
Towson University
Dr. Michael Kim is new to the profession of being a doctor. He is a hard working pediatrician with the health of his patients at the front of his mind. But when a pharmaceutical company, Apativ, come to him with a new drug, Paxaflora, that could save a patient’s life (yet has possible side effects), he is at an impasse. The pharmaceutical gives him gifts like golf clubs and nice dinners. And his boss, Dr. Grey pressures him to prescribe the drug. Dr. Kim does think that the drug could really help patients like Alex. He has been waiting for a new heart for the last two years. And Paxaflora could keep him going longer. But his …show more content…
In this particular case, he must decide what is best for everyone involved in the situation.
One of the choices Dr. Kim can make is to prescribe Paxaflora because it will do more good than harm. Ultimately it could help Alex and his family. The Utilitarian approach from the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics is a form of moral reasoning when an individual decides to choose the greatest balance of goods over harms of everyone affected. In the case of Dr. Kim, he should choose to indeed prescribe Paxaflora to his patient Alex. This particular approach allows for one to have a more straightforward method of deciding what the outcome will be. According to the Markkula Center, “Utilitarianism does not care whether the benefits are produced by lies, manipulation, or coercion.” (Velasquez, 1989). With that statement being said, Dr. Kim does not put into thought of the patient’s needs when deciding upon his decision. A good question to ask is, who will benefit the most out of the situation? By prescribing this new drug it will help educate more doctors about it. Dr. Kim’s boss has standards to look up to in order to continue being paid by Apativ. Dr. Kim would not want