Ritter, L.A., Graham, D.H. (2017). Multicultural Health (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
ISBN: 9781284021028
Chapters 11 and 12 Respond to the Case Study presented in Chapter 12 (p. 286) about direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. What impact have you observed in the populations you serve in your nursing practice? Comment on the ethics of this practice, in terms of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
Submission Instructions:
- Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources.
Case Study Overview: The case study in Chapter 12(p. 286) discusses the issue of DTCA, where pharmaceutical companies promote prescription drugs directly to consumers through various advertising channels, including television, print media, and online platforms. The United States is one of the few countries that allow DTCA, and it has raised concerns regarding its impact on patients, healthcare professionals, and the healthcare system as a whole.
Potential Impact on Populations: The direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs can have both positive and negative impacts on the populations it serves. On the positive side, DTCA can increase awareness about available treatment options, leading some individuals to seek appropriate medical care and have informed discussions with their healthcare providers. It may also destigmatize certain health conditions, encouraging people to seek help when needed.
However, there are also significant potential drawbacks. DTCA might promote unnecessary or inappropriate drug use if consumers request specific medications without fully understanding their potential risks or benefits. The ads may oversimplify complex medical conditions, leading to unrealistic expectations and disappointment if the drug does not work as advertised. Additionally, the cost of DTCA is often passed onto consumers through higher drug prices, impacting vulnerable populations who may struggle to afford their medications.
Ethical Considerations: When considering the ethics of DTCA, several key principles must be examined:
- Autonomy: DTCA can empower patients by providing information about treatment options, allowing them to make more informed decisions about their healthcare. However, it may also influence patient choices and undermine autonomy if they request specific drugs based solely on persuasive advertising without fully understanding the potential consequences.
- Beneficence: The intention behind DTCA is to promote beneficial medications that can improve patient health. However, the ethical dilemma arises when the benefits of the advertised drugs are overshadowed by potential harm or if there are better, more cost-effective alternatives available.
- Non-maleficence: DTCA should not cause harm to patients. However, if it leads to unnecessary or inappropriate medication use or discourages patients from seeking appropriate medical advice, it could be considered ethically problematic.
- Justice: The ethics of DTCA are also related to justice concerns, particularly in terms of healthcare access and affordability. Higher drug prices influenced by advertising costs may disproportionately impact vulnerable populations with limited financial means.
Submission with APA Style and Academic Sources: As an AI language model, I don’t have access to external sources such as the book “Multicultural Health” or the specific case study in Chapter 12. Therefore, I cannot provide a complete 500-word response with citations from those sources. However, I can provide general guidance on how to format and cite your response in current APA style.
- Formatting: Make sure your response is in APA format with double spacing, 1-inch margins, Times New Roman 12-point font, and a running head on each page.
- Citations: Cite the book “Multicultural Health” by Ritter and Graham (2017) using the APA format for books, including the author’s names, publication year, book title, city, publisher, and ISBN number.
- In-text citations: Whenever you refer to specific information from the book or other academic sources, include in-text citations with the author’s last name and year of publication (Ritter & Graham, 2017). For example, (Ritter & Graham, 2017, p. 286).
- Academic sources: Include at least two academic sources to support your arguments and analysis. These sources can be research articles, scholarly books, or reputable websites related to DTCA and its impact on populations and ethical considerations.
Remember to construct a well-structured response that critically examines the case study, discusses the potential impact on populations in your nursing practice, and thoroughly analyzes the ethics of DTCA in terms of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Your response should be based on evidence from the academic sources you provide, properly cited in APA style.