The Prescription Drug Debate

Paper Summary:

Traditionally, the promotion and advertisement of drugs in the United States occurred through simple face-to-face meetings between a pharmaceutical representative and a doctor. The face-to-face meeting was the main method of selling, advertising, and promoting drugs. However, the traditional method has evolved rapidly over the years. Today, Direct to Consumer Advertisement ("DTCA") is one of the main reasons why patients seek drugs. DTCA is a method used by drug companies to sell and promote their drugs, a sum that has grown from $800 million in 1996 to the astronomical sum of $2.7 billion in 2002. This paper examines several issues relating to prescription drugs. It covers advertising, selling, 'Direct to Consumer Advertisement', and examines whether the US should allow prescription drugs to be re-imported from Canada.

Paper Outline:
Introduction: Background and Observations
Controversy: Proponent vs. Opponents
Regulation: An Overview of Advertisement
The U.S. Should Continue to Ban Re-importation
The US Should Allow the Re-importation of Drugs
Ethical Analysis against the Re-importation of Prescription Drugs
Ethical Analysis of the Support for Re-importation of Prescription Drugs
Compare and Contrast Re-importation of Prescription Drugs
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"Taking this approach would make it seem like the best way to deal with prescription drug costs is to allow the re-importation of drugs to the United States from Canada because it helps poor people be able to get their drugs at a reduced cost to them. The people who get their prescription drugs illegally from Canada do pay a significantly less price than if the same drug was purchased in an American pharmacy. This is only a temporary solution to the rising prices in prescription drug costs. So when trying to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people we must look at the biggest picture."

More papers on The Prescription Drug Debate:

• Research Paper # 75180 : "Medicare Prescription Drugs"
• Term Paper # 49255 : "The U.S. Drug Industry"
• Essay # 137618 : "Are Prozac and Similar Antidepressants Safe and Effective?"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: