What are some of the ethical issues involving pharmaceuticals?

Most fields of science have ethical issues involved. Cloning, stem cell research, abortion, and genetic manipulation are just a few of the scientific things we can do that are often debated in our society. Are there any issues like the above in the Pharmaceutical field? Thanks!!

There’s a couple of big ones. One of the major, major ones is the cost involved.

I’ll have to disagree with above. It takes about two billion, average, to get a drug approved in the US. It takes 800 million, minimum to get that drug into Phase II testing. This is a staggering amount of money. And the sheer cost of it complicates the development of drugs for rarer disease states. Orphan drug laws help this, but this is the level of safety and efficacy we demand presently.

Another big one is direct to consumer advertising of drugs. Essentially every country with a large health care industry has banned this practice or restricted it severely (you can’t mention a drug name for example). It adds enormously to the cost of drugs, to the burden those drugs place on health care. Patients show up to their doctors demanding said drugs, self diagnosing, and essentially harassing the doctor until it’s given – regardless of wether or not it’s needed or appropriate. Drug therapy is extremely complex, and your average person does not have the expertise to approach it.

Unethical conduct by drug companies – by and large has drastically fallen off after the Neurontin lawsuits which resulted in a whopping 800 million dollar fine. There’s only one company that has blatant, egregious violations these days, and that’s Eli Lilly. The amount of damage the lawsuits pay out simply isn’t enough to stop the abuse that goes on with certain drugs. By and large, most other drug companies stringently manage their ethics and behavior. There’s a ‘business’ group of pharma companies that has layed down some incredibly strict rules about practices by drug companies that are considered unethical just in the last year. By and large, this has severely curtailed some of the more blatant problems.

Government interference in pharmaceutical application and medical data. By and large, the government mucking around with science doesn’t work – the system isn’t set up to put up with it. Word gets out, scandal breaks out and essentially every major effort to repress medical knowledge has crumbled. As another poster mentions, the Morning After Pill was known to be safe for… over 20 years. No one, not one person, has ever died from it, or ever had a life threatening complication. It has one of the single best safety records of any medicine ever created. Yet it was lobbied against and choked at for decades by the government and religious groups in America because of the thought that it’s an abortion. Even when the theoretical risk of ‘interfering with implantation’ was evaluated and understood: one study put the potential of this happening at greater than 1:200,000,000 and happening through the same mechanism as ibuprofen, and COXIB antinflammatory drugs this fact was ignored. Nevermind that a failed implantation isn’t an abortion. Nevermind that between 50 and 75% of fertilized eggs fail to implant in the healthiest person on the planet. This fact was ignored and deprived millions of Americans of easy access to safe healthcare for years.

Oh yes. And price controls are needed. Things are getting a little nutty.

How is it that pharmaceuticals are making it into municipal water supplies?

Doesn’t chlorine titration take care of that seeing as most (all?) drugs are organics?
Synthetic means made by humans, synthesized.

Organic in this sense means molecules made up partly of element carbon.

It gets flushed in to the water system via waste water .. Ie when you go to the loo. It gets pumped in to the air, and ends up in the water system. People flush unused medication down the toilet.. Straight in the water supply. Pharmaceutical companys also pump there waste into the water system. Puts you off drinking water doesnt it.

What community college offers pharmaceuticals in new york?

And what is the major called exactly?

none.
its now a 6 year program. try long island university, st johns university or suny buffalo

Working in a pharmaceuticals production/packaging line, what is it like?

My brother, a new engineering graduate, has received a job offer to work at a medium-sized pharmaceuticals contract manufacturer. The company was publically floated in the past, employs about 300 people full time. They claim he will initially working 3-4 days per week "on the production line" before gradually transitioning over to management.

I am concerned for my brother. What is a "line" job in the pharmaceuticals production industry like? Is it like an assembly line?

I managed an area next to a production line and the reason I never managed the line was bcz it was so boring. It is very much like an assembly line. The industry is heavily regulated by the FDA so you need to make sure the machines are cranking out the proper widget with the proper dosage at the proper time – so it makes sense for your brother to work the line for a little bit – as part of his training.

It will get him familiar with it and, as an engineer, will allow him to troubleshoot it as well as figure out ways to increase its efficiency. It will also help him meet his team. Worry about him only if working the line is not part of his training.

Germany: Cost of Health Care and Pharmaceuticals to the Government?

This is for a Project and I have searched for this for days basically I have to answer what the German Government pays for health care and pharmaceuticals. Any help is appreciated.

I’m actually working on a similar project.This paper pretty much addressed all my questions – The European Observatory on Health Care Systems. Health Care Systems in Transition: Germany. 2000.

http://www.euro.who.int/document/e68952.pdf

Spitzenverband (The Central Association for Statutory Health Insurance).

https://www.gkv-spitzenverband.de/ITSGKrankenkassenListe.gkvnet

Also wikipedia – health care in germany

I got an A on my project so hopefully this helps you as much it did me!

I recently received a BS in IS, but I think I want to work in Pharmaceuticals or another field. What can I do

After working in the field several months. I can already tell that I want to explore other alternatives. I’m willing to go back to school, but I’m not sure exactly what I should be going back to obtain? Pharmaceuticals is just an idea I’m throwing around, not sure exactly what I want to do.

A probation officer is an option that may be far fetched. Generally, they require a BS of any sort and no experience to start.

Why India is developing strength in two areas, software and pharmaceuticals?

India now has pockets of strengths in high-technological industries such as software and pharmaceuticals. why do you think India is developing strength in these areas? how might it help generate growth in other sectors of Indian economy?

India has invested into these sectors because they are most profitable & promising.
Regarding help, it’s people who need it, not industries. I.e. it would be better to re-train people from failing industries to work in the profitable ones, rather than delay the inevitable decline of these industries.

Could pharmaceuticals be interfering with natural evolution of humans?

I am of the opinion that modern day pharmaceuticals are playing havoc with the natural process of human evolution and advancement.

In fact, I believe it is not only pharmaceuticals that are playing a role in this sinister plot, but any and all substances which humans are chronically exposed to through the environment, foods, food additives, genetically modified foods, artificial colorings, sweeteners, chemical-laden cosmetics, household cleaners, and other potentially hazardous-to-life products and substances. Even right on down to some of the high-tech gadgetry we all love; and, saddest of all, some of the medical tests and treatments we subject ourselves to after we’re sickened from all the other things.
What do you think? If this is happening, the next question has to be "What will some of these things DO to the human species over time, as they trickle down through the generations?"

Part of human evolution was the ability to control the environment instead of the environment completely controlling us. This counts for tools, cooking, bottling, clothing, pharmaceuticals, furniture, etc.

There is not a "sinister plot" to destroy humans via medicines. Medicines are a part of controlling our environment. They keep us alive longer, and more of us alive. If this was not true, the human population would still be hovering around 2-3 billion worldwide, and people would be dying from common illnesses, like the flu virus or diabetes.

I think the human species will become adapted to these methods, just like we’ve become adapted to cooked food and walking upright.

How do I become a Pharmaceuticals Sales Rep?

I am in the middle of looking for work due to my last company going out of business and would like to become a pharmaceutical sales rep. I have several years of successful sales experience but I do not have a four year degree. I have noticed that all the positions that are available require a four year degree. I did however find a online course for Certified National Pharmaceutical Sales and wondered if that would help my chances at all. Is there any pharmaceutical reps out there that can give me any advice or ideas? Any help would be appreciated.

Here is a really great sight about your question.

http://www.coreynahman.com/4yrdegree.html

Is there a natural or holistic treatment in lieu of pharmaceuticals for high blood pressure?

I’m tired of these pharmaceuticals. Can anyone direct me toward a RELIABLE and SAFE natural, holistic way to manage my blood pressure? It’s not crazy high, but due to other conditions I must keep it low.

grebned – Hi, there are ways to lower your blood pressure other than medications. I just want to caution you against assuming that herbal medications are SAFER than pharmaceuticals just because they are "natural". Herbal medications are just as much drugs as pharmaceuticals are, and if you choose to go that route, should only be used under the supervision of a medical professional! Herbal supplements are derived from natural sources, but are often taken in doses MUCH higher than what would be considered "natural" and can lead to just as many side effects. In fact, some would argue that because pharmaceuticals are subject to strict research and standards while herbal medications are not subject to any FDA standards at all, they are riskier in general. Just as an example, the first herbal medication the previous poster mentioned is aconite (or wolfsbane) which hs been documented to result in death from as little as 5cc of tincture, 2mg of pure aconite, 1g of crude plant parts, or 6g of cured aconite. NO KNOWN ANTIDOTE EXISTS. In addition, it has been documented (Fitzpatrick et al., 1994; Tai et al., 1992) to cause ventricular tachycardia which can lead to cardiac arrest.

Two natural methods for lowering blood pressure that have been proven by research are exercise, meditation/stress reduction, and reduction in salt intake. Exercise does not mean training for a marathon or anything intense, just moderate aerobic exercise at least 3 times a week for at least half an hour a day. The more the better. Yoga, meditation techniques and stress reduction counseling have all be shown to be effective in reducing blood pressure in smaller studies. Finally, some people are more sensitive to salt intake than others, and reducing salt intake can lead to an improvement in your blood pressure. Also, if you are taking herbal supplements, let your physician know as some can significantly INcrease your blood pressure.

Most physicians are perfectly fine with patients trying herbal medications as long as you do so with their supervision. Remember, herbals are medications too. Just because they are natural doesn’t make them safe. Hemlock is a natural herb, but Socrates drank and killed himself…