The Influence of Pharmaceutical Companies Advertising Strategies on Medical Prescription at the School of Medicine in Marília, São Paulo, Brazil: an Ethical Perspective

Abstract:

Pharmaceutical companies and the medical industry as a whole participate in the capitalist market economy where comercial competition and the search for new drugs (with greater efficiancy and fewer and less sever adverse effects) become goals in the race for market dominance. Private companies’ investimento in new discoveries results in a significant increase in the cost of drugs. Withou this financial incentive, such scientific research would be considerably limited. In order to presente a new drug to the medical profession and launch it in the market, pharmaceutical companies use techniques and sales stragies varying from participation in medical congresso to individual contacts, in the form of personal benefits granted to physicians. The current article aims to analyze the fators involved in the ethics of medical prescriptions and medical behavior, influenced by constant comercial advertising, benefits, and distortions in interest among the vários parties.

Key-words:
Advertising; Drug Industry; Prescriptiosn, Drug; Ethics, Medical