Pharmaceutical gift giving: analysis of an ethical dilemma.

Full Abstract

When pharmaceutical companies market their products to, and through, healthcare professionals in hospitals and private practice, healthcare professionals face ethical dilemmas in their practice and their organizations. Pharmaceutical companies target nurse practitioners with prescribing privileges. The author describes the ethical dilemma faced by healthcare professionals when friendly salespeople offer tempting gifts. The article outlines cultural responses to gift giving and ethical issues surrounding healthcare professionals' responses to pharmaceutical marketing strategies. Nurse administrators need to acknowledge a growing threat to nursing integrity. Nurse administrators have the power to make and enforce ethical policies that prevent proprietary influences from clouding nursing judgment and contributing to the escalating costs of prescription medications.

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Author information

Author/s: Stokamer, Charlene L (CL);

Affiliation: Patient Health Education, VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, NY, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: The Journal of nursing administration (J Nurs Adm), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jan; vol 33 (issue 1) : pp 48-51

Dates: Created 2003/01/24; Completed 2003/02/14; Revised 2006/07/24;

PMID: 12544625, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Gift Giving - ethics
Humans
Marketing - ethics
Nurse Administrators - ethics; psychology
Patient Advocacy - ethics
Power (Psychology)

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