The distribution of prescription drugs is characterized by particular ethical issues that arise from the development and testing of the drugs. The development of drugs is often a series of procedural phases that inculcates several steps that drugs have to undergo to reach the market and issues around the pricing of drugs (Yan, 2010, pg25.). It is paramount that particular issues about drugs testing and delivery. All these factors affect the availability of the drugs on the market as individual cultural orientations also have implications for the distribution chain of the drugs. The genotype of individuals and their response to drug determines the quantity of prescription drugs available for that particular subgroup. However, certain moral issues surround such distributions which are then reflected in the availability and use of the drugs by the subgroups. The following are the ethical issues that affect the availability of prescription drugs;
Paternalism- it is one of the ethical issues in the distribution of prescription drugs. It is important that people are always left to exercise authority over decision-making processes especially those that affects their lives. However, parents are the custodians of their children and thus have the freedom and moral jurisdiction to take certain actions on their behalf. The fear that some children can be used to take certain experimental actions has made it difficult to be allowed to exercise independence over drug use (Jennett, 2010, pg97-126.). The control of can limit the availability of drugs for such genotype as the parent might deem it inappropriate for their children thus making it difficult for manufacturers to test the drug. When such happen, it limits the quantity as the only small amount has to be made available to that particular population.
Autonomy and informed consent- as an ethical issue, autonomy underpins several aspects of healthcare and pharmacology. It is a requirement that patients are subjected to full information regarding any medical endeavor they are to undertake. Autonomy is always pivotal in the health decision making, and such decisions often have an impact on the distribution of drugs which in turn translate to the availability of the drug. In particular considerations, informed consent enables an individual to accept the administration of certain drugs and their tests conducted within a given group with common genotype to determine the availability of the drug in the market. The administration of prescription drugs must be supported by patient consent and knowledge of the drug. In this view, it is paramount that the manufacturer must take into account the wishes of the potential clients in the form of patients who must approve the drug before it is permitted into the market. Since the drugs are meant for use by these particular individuals, their variation in preference and trust must curtail the decision on supply. Legally, children presumably lack the capacity to conceptualize information and make informed decisions (Quaid, 2012, pg1083-90). As a result, they are not considered to be autonomous. Therefore, impediments to liberty in exercising consent over health issues prevent the supply of certain prescription drugs thus have the decisive influence of the drugs. Consequently, when paternalistic actions prevail to the detriment of the drug, the availability is hindered.
Legislation over dissent-as advocated by philosophy, the need to exercise liberty in thoughts and decision-making should never be subject to control. However, certain legislation might go against the wish of the patients to outlaw administration of particular prescription drugs to a population subgroup (Jennett, 2010, pg97-126.). Such laws will have direct implications for the availability of the prescription drugs. Though these laws might be ethically contestable, the exercising them in a preventive manner hinders the availability of prescription drugs.
Bibliography
Yan, J. (2010). Learn Ethical, Legal Issues Affecting Impaired Patients. PN Psychiatric
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Jennett, B. (2010). Ethical issues. The Vegetative State Medical Facts, Ethical and
Legal Dilemmas, 97-126. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
Quaid, K. A. (2012). Molecular Testing: Ethical and Legal Issues. Molecular Genetic
Pathology, 1083-1090. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
