Good Olaf Essay Example

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most sensitive industries in the world. In most cases, research based pharmaceutical industry is the only source of information for its respective products. Any company that offers any pharmaceutical product is legally and ethically responsible for ensuring accurate and trustworthy information about each product, thus guarantying that the information is not intended for marketing but for the training of the potential users. Although all these ethical standards are explicitly mentioned in the IFPMA code practice, yet, the ethical responsibility for providing accurate information about the offered products to health care professionals still resides with the companies.
In some cases, some drugs are recalled due to more than expected side effects; however, recalling may still result in hurt or death of users. Vioxx, Bextra, Rezulin are some of the major examples of the drugs which were called back from the market even when they were approved by the FDA earlier.
The pin pointing question here is that whether a sales representative of a pharmaceutical company should market a drug knowing that it may has some side effects? The answer to this question is positive. There is no such drug, which is beneficial to all and has no side effects. In all cases, a few have to suffer at the expense of the others. However, the impotent ethically duty of the representative is to provide complete intimation ranging all aspects especially the potential side effects, to all concerned stakeholders. In this way, the prescribing doctor can help to minimize negative cases by his judgment. Moreover, such free flow of information will minimize the probability of damages. This is one of the reasons that every developed country prohibits the advertisement of pharmaceutical products directly to the consumers. Some products might show different behaviors with different people; therefore, such pharmaceutical products must be distributed and used strategically with proper planning.
If all these measures are met, then the product can be distributed easily. Any problem that may arise with the use of this drug will be reported immediately and proper attention for the resolution of problem will be made. This may result in discontinuation of its usage, as deemed necessary by the doctor.
Ethically speaking, if the precautionary measures are met, then there is not harm in the distribution of this very product. As the nature of the product possesses varying characteristics, therefore, the point of concern is only safe distribution. In this regard, it is important to brief all stakeholders about the probable side effects (as these are part of the product). The explanation of potential side effects is not an easy task. This will require briefing at every level ranging from each employee to all distributors, retailers, prescribers and other related people. In case, the chain is broken at any point of time, then some people might be left un-looped with the outcomes, resulting in bottlenecks. Ultimately, such bottleneck can prove to be a problem for the distribution of this new drug. This fact should be discussed properly in the board meetings that all stakeholders of the company are made aware of the proper fact and figures before the distribution is started. Conversely, if these side effects are not properly briefed and are kept hidden, then this will be considered unethical and a measure to earn profit. Every company will try best to avoid extreme measure like recalling and embarrassment at all fronts.