Product placement in waiting rooms: a "Trojan Horse" that bthe NHS can do without
A lot of concern, debate and discussions have ensued in the last few
years in relation to the ethics and association between the pharmaceutical
industry and health professionals, along with the direct and indirect
influences on clinical practice arising thereof. This issue has been
covered extensively in various forums, including leading peer-reviews
research journals, and has led onto concerted efforts by individuals,
professional bodies and the industry to re-visit and develop appropriate
guidelines. In this context, it was concerning to read the article by
Hickman (2008) which discusses the use of information leaflets in the GP
waiting area.
From personal experience working in a specialist hospital, I can
endorse the research data reporting that a high percentage of patients pay
more attention and give credence to leaflets displayed in the hospital
waiting area. However, it may be interesting to see the pattern and
logistics for distribution and availability of information leaflets in
specialist hospital waiting room areas.
The author provides various examples to illustrate his case. It is a
bit disheartening to note that despite advancements in the field of ethics
and the up-gradation of the NHS, there appears to be little clarity
amongst various stakeholders regarding this issue: the responsibility not
being accepted by any one (in fact, being passed onto others). Going by
the statement made by the spokesman of Waiting Room Information Service,
provision of information leaflets by one stakeholder/organisation does
not, in my opinion, completely absolve the other stakeholder/organisation
from its responsibility of ensuring that it is ethical and appropriate. As
theirs is a contractual relationship, the implied ethicality in this
particular statement (by the spokesperson) has potential for serious
ethical implications.
Also, the issue of having various stakeholders, and multiplicity of
(sub) contractors in the chain, makes one wonder whether this indirectly
leads onto one being able to avoid responsibility for self and/or being
able to pass it on someone else. Responses to the author from the Chair of
Ethics-Royal College of General Practitioners and the NHS Chief Knowledge
Officer are indeed reassuring. But, it still begs the question- “Who shall
bell the cat”?
In the current climate of growing disenchantment, some concrete
actions may help the struggling NHS in regaining some of its past glory
and strength (i.e. a highly ethical & quality driven service).
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
10 June 2008
Nitin Gupta
Consultant Psychiatrist
Margaret Stanhope Centre-South Staffs and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust, Burton on Trent, D13 0RB
Rapid Response:
Product placement in waiting rooms: a "Trojan Horse" that bthe NHS can do without
A lot of concern, debate and discussions have ensued in the last few years in relation to the ethics and association between the pharmaceutical industry and health professionals, along with the direct and indirect influences on clinical practice arising thereof. This issue has been covered extensively in various forums, including leading peer-reviews research journals, and has led onto concerted efforts by individuals, professional bodies and the industry to re-visit and develop appropriate guidelines. In this context, it was concerning to read the article by Hickman (2008) which discusses the use of information leaflets in the GP waiting area.
From personal experience working in a specialist hospital, I can endorse the research data reporting that a high percentage of patients pay more attention and give credence to leaflets displayed in the hospital waiting area. However, it may be interesting to see the pattern and logistics for distribution and availability of information leaflets in specialist hospital waiting room areas.
The author provides various examples to illustrate his case. It is a bit disheartening to note that despite advancements in the field of ethics and the up-gradation of the NHS, there appears to be little clarity amongst various stakeholders regarding this issue: the responsibility not being accepted by any one (in fact, being passed onto others). Going by the statement made by the spokesman of Waiting Room Information Service, provision of information leaflets by one stakeholder/organisation does not, in my opinion, completely absolve the other stakeholder/organisation from its responsibility of ensuring that it is ethical and appropriate. As theirs is a contractual relationship, the implied ethicality in this particular statement (by the spokesperson) has potential for serious ethical implications.
Also, the issue of having various stakeholders, and multiplicity of (sub) contractors in the chain, makes one wonder whether this indirectly leads onto one being able to avoid responsibility for self and/or being able to pass it on someone else. Responses to the author from the Chair of Ethics-Royal College of General Practitioners and the NHS Chief Knowledge Officer are indeed reassuring. But, it still begs the question- “Who shall bell the cat”?
In the current climate of growing disenchantment, some concrete actions may help the struggling NHS in regaining some of its past glory and strength (i.e. a highly ethical & quality driven service).
Competing interests: None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests