Information disclosure by the pharmaceutical industry- Needs and essentiality
Companies operating in this sector conduct research and focus on innovation during clinical trials. The manufacturers of drugs, however, still hide much of the needed information from the public according to a recent study published in the BMJ Open journal (Mello, Rosenthal, & Neumann, 2003). As noted in case of the fertility drugs that might be the reason behind ovarian cancer in women according to the study of Stanford University. The risks associated with not disclosing vital drug-related information might be fatal as well. Hence, the Food and Drug Administration in the US is responsible for investigating these matters to ensure public health. After authorizing or approving the results of the clinical trial, it is plausible to sell the drug in the market.
Duty of drug manufacturers
Legal, ethical, and moral obligations during the development and distribution of drugs are a necessity. Unsafe products, whether medicines or vaccines, should not become a part of the prescribing medications under any circumstances. Before marketing such products, it is essential to test and verify the side effects because it might have a negative impact on the health of consumers. If the drug is not socially useful, there is no point in selling it and claiming it to be “safe.” Again medical ethics should be a vital consideration for drug manufacturers. Section 388, Restatement of Torts (Second), creates liability or duty for product suppliers to state the intended use of the product for avoiding any danger in the future. Hence, drug packages should clearly state the effects of using the drug and the real purpose of the drug. Again, the drug makers have a “duty to inform” the users, and it should be followed by non-prescription (Sheffet, & Kopp, 1990). It is not enough to warn the patients only; the drug makers are obliged to inform the entire medical community so that physicians do not prescribe such drugs. Nevertheless, exceptions are also applicable in emergency cases.
Outlining the advantages of information disclosure
The healthcare industry can be benefitted if drug manufacturers release or publicize the data of clinical trials and outline the effects of a particular drug. Consumer welfare should be prioritized, and it would enhance the trust of consumers in the pharmaceutical industry (Shrank & Avorn, 2007). In the US, the FDA governs and regulates the pharmaceutical industry, and information disclosure would secure the manufacturers from any legal matters. Moreover, 97 million dollars are invested every year on the US pharmaceutical industry for ensuring global health. This considerable fund should not be misused by the industry while conducting research and developing new drugs. Most importantly, patients rely on the industry for meeting their healthcare needs, and medicines or vaccines should be serving this purpose rather than focusing on selling random drugs and gaining profits. While prescribing medicines, doctors rely on the information provided on the drug packages, and it creates a massive responsibility for the manufacturers to disclose the right amount of information only. Lastly, research subjects can be protected during trials. Transparency would ensure fewer implications for them.