Ethical Issues In Health Care

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to identify the moral dilemma concerning the increase of medication over recent years and examine the obligation of pharmaceutical companies to create drugs at prices obtainable for those in need of treatment. The pharmaceutical companies have been criticized for pricing structure by the government, media, and Congress. Many critics claim the corporation can create a less expensive product without the unethical pricing and sacrificing their research. The problem can be identified by understanding the economics and pricing policies of pharmaceutical companies. The results obtained from identifying the issues are the government needs to have more involvement with companies to increase patient access …show more content…
In the case studies, research suggest support in favor of the ethical argument for broader access while other research suggest broader access have unintended consequences for the growth of new innovations and the medical needs of patients. The article is divided into categories that explain the two interdisciplinary in terms of ethics and economics of pharmaceutical pricing. Although the article does not offer any solutions, many insights are provided to create your own conclusions. The introduction provides background information on the rise of controversy over high prices starting in the 2000s with HIV/AIDS drugs. The empirical research shows that drugs should be treated as a special good and not a commodity with a value captured by the marketplace. Economical research suggest patients value their medical services and their drugs higher than they pay. For example, the value people put on an additional year of life ($110,000 - $150,000) on services compared to the average American household. (Bobinac A, van Exel J, Rutten FFH, Brouwer WBF, 2014). …show more content…
Spinello expands on the ethics of pharmaceutical drug pricing where the issue of price is complex and controversial. He identifies the moral stake at issue is distributive justice for fair prices for medicine. Spinello recognizes the issue of controversial drug prices started with azidothymide or AZT. AZT is one of the most prominent examples of outrageous drug pricing due to the Burroughs-Wellcome company stating treatment cost as much as $6,500 per year. The company claims the sales from AZT can be used to fund research for development for more effective AIDS/HIVS drugs. Spinello mentions the lack of reasonable prices of drugs can be attributed to structure of the American free market and the oligopolistic nature of the drug industry. Other countries have negotiation between drug companies and their government to determine price levels by bargaining with the pharmaceutical companies. The difference and rationale in America behind drug prices from pharmaceutical companies can expand from the free market principle of high risk, high reward. The major pharmaceutical companies try to resist any form of regulation due to threat of their stability of their industry. The great risks associated with the pharmaceutical research is a small percentage of drugs make it to the market but always has the impending product liability problems and expensive lawsuits. The free market philosophy that

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