The Ethics of Pharmaceutical Research Funding: A Social Organization Approach
ResourcesThe Ethics of Pharmaceutical Research Funding: A Social Organization Approach
What is this about?
This is a fictional case about a researcher that conducts research for a pharmaceutical company. Instead of looking from the viewpoint of the individual, the case adopts a ‘social organization approach’: it analyses how the interactions with the company personnel may subtly lead to unethical behavior.
Why is this important?
Studies that are financed by the pharmaceutical industry may be subject to a conflict of interest of the company. Routine contacts of the pharmaceutical company and the scientists may cause the scientist to perceive the unethical behavior as normal. Adopting this new ‘social organization approach’, rather than analyzing the individual characters, may give insight in how theses company-scientist interactions can lead to unethical behavior. Therefore, this case may potentially help us to prevent future unethical behavior in pharmaceutical industry-sponsored studies.
