2. Did Pfizer do enough by presenting its drug and warning patients of the drug’s side effects through product labeling and instructions to physicians? If not, what more could Pfizer have done?
No. In the case of Viagra, it does not appear that there was enough warning of the possible negative side effects. This may be just because the consumer was not warned. After some bad publicity that linked Viagra to some deaths the firm agreed to issue new labels that cautioned/advised patients not to use the pill if they had one or more of the following risk factors: hypertension, obesity, cardiac problems history, and cigarette smoking. Not only that, but its main concern should be to warn the physicians, because the patient may not have the medical knowledge to understand the product. They should also think of other risks such as the ones that were possibly anticipated but did not occur in the trial-testing, or unexpected risks that occurred but could not be deffinetly associated with the product. The manufacturer has to decide which information is important to know and warn the customer.
3. Should the FDA require the pharmaceutical industry to conduct more elaborate pre-market drug testing or increase monitoring of its customers’ use of the drug?
Yes. As we have noticed in the case, more testing was done after the product was out on the market due to some complications and alleged side-effects. There were reports of 128 Americans that has dies after taking Viagra. Some people experienced a bizarre effect of visual disturbance. It seems that they are accurately and adequately monitoring its customers’ use of the drug because we have found out about many of the cases that might be related to Viagra and what has been done as a result.
4. Although legal, is it ethical for drug manufacturers to develop and market a drug that promises enhanced sexual performance but could also cause life-threatening side effects?
Yes. They can produce it and offer it, as long as they make the consumer aware of all the possible side-effects of the drug. Usually, the people that choose to use that drug are mature enough to know what they are getting into and able to choose for themselves. However, they should be careful that the product does not kill the user. The drug helps the user, however not as much as it has been thought it would. It does not help out with impotence or similar problems. The marketers should “accept responsibility for the consequences of their activities and make every effort to ensure that their decisions, recommendations, and actions function to identify, serve, and satisfy all relevant publics: customers, organizations, and society.”
