Drug Promotions Between Ethics, Regulations, and Financial Interests.

BACKGROUND: The promotion of the latest medicines produced by the pharmaceutical industry is an important issue both from an ethical point of view (the level of accessibility, the way research is carried out) and from the point of view of marketing and especially from the lobbying issues raised. AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY: The ethical dilemmas raised by the promotion of new drugs revolve between the need to discover new molecules important for treating a wide range of diseases and the need to establish a battery of ethical rules, absolutely necessary for regulations in the field to be compliant with all ethical principles. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted through PubMed, MEDLINE, Plus, Scopus, and Web of Science (2015-2023) using combinations of keywords, including drugs, medical publicity, and pharma marketing plus ethical dilemma. ETHICS AND THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES: The promotion of medicines is governed by advertising laws and regulations in many countries, including at EU level, based on the need for countries to ensure that the promotion and advertising of medicines is truthful, based on information understood by consumers. The ethical analysis of the issues raised is more necessary and complex as the channels used for promotion are more accessible to the population, and the information, easier to obtain, can be the cause of increased self-medication and overeating. Large amounts of money invested in the development of new molecules, but also the risk of scientific fraud through manipulation of data during clinical trials, selective or biased publication of information can have repercussions on the health of the population. CONCLUSIONS: The development of new pharmaceutical molecules is necessary to intervene and treat as many conditions as possible, but marketing must not neglect the observance of ethical principles. The promotion of medicines should be the attribute especially of the medical staff, which should also be a mandatory part of the mechanism for approving the marketing methods and means used by the pharmaceutical companies.

A bioethical examination of the use of human emotions as a film marketing tool on short video platforms: normative morality applicable to film marketing matrix / Un examen bioético del uso de las emociones humanas como herramienta de marketing cinematográfico en plataformas de vídeo de corta duración: moralidad normativa aplicable a la matriz de marketing cinematográfico / Um exame bioético do uso de emoções humanas como uma ferramenta de marketing em plataformas de vídeos curtos: moralidade normativa aplicável à matriz de marketing

Abstract: The marketing matrix on a short video platform is an intriguing research topic. It is a novel film marketing strategy on the short video platform that successfully stimulates the audience's emotion in the film marketing process, but it must also be ethically tested.To address this desire, we examine the problem using normative ethics (consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics). The marketing matrix will be addressed within the framework of philosophical ethics, whose emotional marketing can be tested, in what follows, through reviews of literature and content analysis. First and foremost, a matrix standpoint will be adopted in order to provide a preliminary conceptualization along with its emotional techniques of the marketing matrix; then, the marketing matrix will be addressed within the framework of philosophical ethics, whose emotional marketing can be tested. In the future, when creating a moral marketing matrix, the author proposes that numerous ethical concepts be taken into account comprehensively.

Resumen: La matriz de marketing en una plataforma de vídeo de corta duración es un tema de investigación intrigante. Se trata de una novedosa estrategia de marketing cinematográfico en la plataforma de vídeos cortos que estimula con éxito la emoción de la audiencia en el proceso de marketing cinematográfico, pero también debe ponerse a prueba desde el punto de vista ético. Para hacerlo, examinamos el problema utilizando la ética normativa (consecuencialismo, deontología y ética de la virtud). La matriz de marketing se abordará en el marco de la ética filosófica, cuyo marketing emocional puede ponerse a prueba, en lo que sigue, mediante revisiones de la literatura y análisis de contenido. En primer lugar, se adoptará un punto de vista matricial para proporcionar una conceptualización preliminar junto con sus técnicas emocionales de la matriz de marketing; a continuación, se abordará la matriz de marketing en el marco de la ética filosófica, cuyo marketing emocional puede ponerse a prueba. En el futuro, a la hora de crear una matriz de marketing moral, el autor propone que se tengan en cuenta numerosos conceptos éticos de forma exhaustiva.

Resumo: A matriz de marketing em plataforma de vídeos curtos é um tópico de pesquisa intrigante. É uma nova estratégia de marketing em plataforma de vídeos curtos que estimula com sucesso as emoções da audiência no processo de marketing, mas deve ser também eticamente testada. Visando esse propósito, nós examinamos o problema usando ética normativa (consequencialismo, deontologia e ética da virtude). A matriz de marketing será abordada na perspectiva da ética filosófica, cujo marketing emocional pode ser testado através de revisões da literatura e de análise de conteúdo. Em primeiro lugar, um ponto de vista de matriz será adotado de forma a fornecer uma conceitualização juntamente com suas técnicas emocionais de matriz de marketing; em seguida, a matriz de marketing será abordada na perspectiva da ética filosófica, cujo marketing emocional pode ser testado. No futuro, ao criar uma matriz de marketing moral, o autor propõe que inúmeros conceitos éticos sejam levados em consideração de forma abrangente.

Social representation of fair price among professional photographers.

We investigated the social representation of fair price of French and English-speaking photographers using the free association method. In two independent studies, we performed a factorial analysis of correspondence of the words provided by the participants as well as a similitude analysis. The results indicated that "fair price" was mainly associated with time, effort and experience level of photographers. Both French- and English-speaking samples made similar associations around the concept of fair price but the order of importance varied. We observed some gender-related differences in both samples, although the relative number of male and female participants must be taken into consideration.

Recommendations for the sale and promotion of dermocosmetic treatments at the office.

A novel chapter in current medical settings is the promotion and attention of esthetic aspects rather than health issues by health professionals. The human aspiration related to the search for personal beauty has generated new scenarios in medical practice. The Committee on Ethics and Transparency in the Physician-Industry Relationship (CETREMI) of the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico has analyzed this phenomenon and has issued recommendations directed both to medical professionals and to producers and potential consumers of esthetic procedures.

Un capítulo novedoso es la atención y promoción por parte de médicos especialistas de aspectos relacionados con procedimientos estéticos, más que con la salud. La aspiración humana de la búsqueda de la belleza personal ha generado nuevos escenarios en la labor médica. El Comité de Ética y Transparencia en la Relación Médico Industria (CETREMI) de la Academia Nacional de México ha revisado esta circunstancia y emite recomendaciones tanto a los médicos como a los productores y potenciales consumidores de procedimientos estéticos.

[Case: bioethical disputes of the donations of the pharmaceutical companies to the health centers]. / Caso: controversias bioéticas de las donaciones de las compañías farmacéuticas a los centros sanitarios.

The interaction between doctors and pharmaceutical companies has been and is common, occurs in multiple ways and has proven, in many cases, to be necessary for the development of medicine. However, some of the sales techniques of the pharmaceutical industry are not ethically acceptable and can compromise the independence of physicians. An ethical dilemma arises from a real case in which the search for vulnerability in prescription based on a donation by a pharmaceutical company was not easy to identify.

Current Challenges in Labelling for Generic Medicinal Products: Company Core Data Sheet (CCDS) Development and Maintenance.

Labelling of pharmaceutical products plays a vital role in the safe and effective use of approved medicinal products. This information may be provided to end-users including patients and/or prescribers, and it needs to be made available in multiple formats including printed forms (patient information leaflets, pack inserts, etc.) or web portals of the product, based on national authority guidelines. The Company Core Data Sheet (CCDS) serves as a key document representing the pharmaceutical company's position on the product and is used as a reference document for national labels. Content from national labels may differ from the CCDS for different reasons including implementation of national authority requirements in the serving market and findings from local markets. In the current article, we discuss the process, challenges and key concepts in creating and maintaining CCDS documents for generic products. We highlight key parameters that are worthy of process improvement in generic products' CCDS updates. In addition, we argue that labelling harmonisation across multiple regions, especially safety section-related information, plays a key role in promoting end-user safety and would help communicate risks. We also strongly believe that the topic is worthy of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) consideration, and propose that this is the key area that requires standardisation and harmonisation.

Advocacy, Strategy and Tactics Used to Confront Corporate Power: The Nestlé Boycott and International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

Douglas A. Johnson began his career as a human rights activist while earning his undergraduate degree in philosophy (1975) at Macalester College in the United States. He lived at Gandhi's ashram in India to study nonviolent organizing (1969 to 1970). He served as the director of the Third World Institute in Minneapolis, MN, USA (1973-1979), which functioned as the international social justice program of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Johnson's work included creating and running a political collective; leading development study tours into villages in Guatemala and Honduras; and investigating how transnational companies (e.g., Nestlé) were penetrating the developing world. He was the co-founder of the Infant Formula Action Coalition (INFACT), elected national chairperson (1977-1985), and appointed as Executive Director (1978-1984). His role included representing INFACT before national and international organizations, the human milk substitute industry, the US Congress and Executive Branch, and the press. He initiated and coordinated the first international grass-roots consumer boycott (against Nestlé) in ten nations. He was also a co-founder of the International Nestlé Boycott Committee and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). He earned a Master's in Public and Private Management at Yale University (1988). Then he became the first Executive Director of the Center for Victims of Torture, in Minneapolis (1988-2012), the first treatment center for torture victims in the US. Since 2013, he has been teaching human rights theory and practice, and sharing lessons he has learned, as a Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University (US). (This interview was conducted via Zoom and transcribed verbatim. It has been edited for ease of readability. DJ refers to Doug Johnson and LD refers to Laura Duckett.).

COVID-19 and 'immune boosting' on the internet: a content analysis of Google search results.

OBJECTIVE: The spread of misinformation has accompanied the coronavirus pandemic, including topics such as immune boosting to prevent COVID-19. This study explores how immune boosting is portrayed on the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Content analysis. METHODS: We compiled a dataset of 227 webpages from Google searches in Canada and the USA using the phrase 'boost immunity' AND 'coronavirus' on 1 April 2020. We coded webpages for typology and portrayal of immune boosting and supplements. We recorded mentions of microbiome, whether the webpage was selling or advertising an immune boosting product or service, and suggested strategies for boosting immunity. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between webpages that appeared in the searches in Canada and the USA. The most common types of webpages were from news (40.5%) and commercial (24.7%) websites. The concept of immune boosting was portrayed as beneficial for avoiding COVID-19 in 85.5% of webpages and supplements were portrayed as beneficial in 40% of the webpages, but commercial sites were more likely to have these portrayals. The top immune boosting strategies were vitamin C (34.8%), diet (34.4%), sleep (34.4%), exercise (30.8%) and zinc (26.9%). Less than 10% of the webpages provide any critique of the concept of immune boosting. CONCLUSIONS: Pairing evidence-based advice for maintaining one's health (eg, healthy diet, exercise, sleep) with the phrase immune boosting and strategies lacking in evidence may inadvertently help to legitimise the concept, making it a powerful marketing tool. Results demonstrate how the spread of misinformation is complex and often more subtle than blatant fraudulent claims.

Recomendaciones para la venta y promoción en el consultorio de tratamientos dermocosméticos / Recommendations for the sale and promotion of dermocosmetic treatments at the office

Resumen Un capítulo novedoso es la atención y promoción por parte de médicos especialistas de aspectos relacionados con procedimientos estéticos, más que con la salud. La aspiración humana de la búsqueda de la belleza personal ha generado nuevos escenarios en la labor médica. El Comité de Ética y Transparencia en la Relación Médico Industria (CETREMI) de la Academia Nacional de México ha revisado esta circunstancia y emite recomendaciones tanto a los médicos como a los productores y potenciales consumidores de procedimientos estéticos.

Abstract A novel chapter in current medical settings is the promotion and attention of esthetic aspects rather than health issues by health professionals. The human aspiration related to the search for personal beauty has generated new scenarios in medical practice. The Committee on Ethics and Transparency in the Physician-Industry Relationship (CETREMI) of the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico has analyzed this phenomenon and has issued recommendations directed both to medical professionals and to producers and potential consumers of esthetic procedures.

The physical activity and nutrition-related corporate social responsibility initiatives of food and beverage companies in Canada and implications for public health.

BACKGROUND: As diet-related diseases have increased over the past decades, large food companies have come under scrutiny for contributing to this public health crisis. In response, the food industry has implemented Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives related to nutrition and physical activity to emphasize their concern for consumers. This study sought to describe the nature and targeted demographic of physical activity and nutrition-related CSR initiatives of large food companies in Canada and to compare companies who participate in the Canadian Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CAI), a self-regulatory initiative aimed at reducing unhealthy food advertising to children, with non-participating companies. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016. Thirty-nine large food companies, including 18 participating in the CAI, were included in the study. The webpages, Facebook pages and corporate reports of these companies were surveyed to identify CSR initiatives related to nutrition and physical activity. Initiatives were then classified by type (as either philanthropic, education-oriented, research-oriented or other) and by targeted demographic (i.e. targeted at children under 18 years or the general population). Differences between CAI and non-CAI companies were tested using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Overall, 63 CSR initiatives were identified; 39 were nutrition-related while 24 were physical activity-related. Most (70%) initiatives were considered philanthropic activities, followed by education-oriented (20%), research-oriented (8%) and other (2%). Almost half (47%; n = 29) of initiatives targeted children. Examples of child-targeted initiatives included support of school milk programs (n = 2), the sponsorship of children's sports programs (n = 2) and the development of educational resources for teachers (n = 1). There were no statistically significant differences in the number of CSR initiatives per company (CAI: Mdn = 1, IQR = 3; non-CAI: Mdn = 0, IQR = 2; p = .183) or the proportion of child-targeted initiatives (CAI: 42%; non-CAI: 54%; p = .343) between CAI and non-CAI companies. CONCLUSION: Food companies, including many that largely sell and market unhealthy products, are heavily involved in physical activity and nutrition-related initiatives in Canada, many of which are targeted to children. Government policies aimed at protecting children from unhealthy food marketing should consider including CSR initiatives that expose children to food company branding.

When intents to educate can misinform: Inadvertent paltering through violations of communicative norms.

Paltering is a form of deception whereby true statements are used to mislead and is widely employed in negotiations, marketing, espionage, and ordinary communications where speakers hold ulterior motives. We argue that paltering is accomplished through strategic violations of communicative norms such as the Gricean cooperative principles of relevance, quantity, quality and manner. We further argue that, just as genuine paltering deceives by deliberately violating communicative norms, inadvertent violations of these norms may be just as misleading. In this work, we demonstrated that educational information presented prominently on the American Diabetes Association website violated the Gricean communicative principles and disrupted readers' performance on a test of diabetes knowledge. To establish the effects of these communicative violations, we revised the ADA's information to preserve the original content while better adhering to pragmatic principles. When these ADA explanations were judiciously revised to minimize pragmatic violations, they were transformed from misleading to educational.

Tu Youyou winning the Nobel Prize: Ethical research on the value and safety of traditional Chinese medicine.

In 2015, the Chinese pharmacologist, Tu Youyou, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of artemisinin. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was the source of inspiration for Tu's discovery and provides an opportunity for the world to know more about TCM as a source of medical knowledge and practice. In this article, the value of TCM is evaluated from an ethical perspective. The characteristics of 'jian, bian, yan, lian' are explored in the way they promote accessibility and economic efficiency for TCM. The article also examines how the increased use and prevalence of TCM reflects the scientific, cultural, and ethical values of TCM and their increasing attraction in meeting major challenges to medicine and health systems currently and in the future. The article discusses safety issues within TCM, which is a controversial area, and also comments on some shortcomings and challenges which pose difficulties for more widespread and greater uptake of TCM-derived clinical or therapeutic interventions. The article concludes that TCM is generally safe if it is used according to TCM theory and where such applications are cognizant of the strengths and weaknesses of TCM. TCM has important bioethical values which may inform potential measures for meeting challenges facing global health care systems and the article argues that it can have an increasing role in improving human health.