Ethical Dilemma Paper Eth/321 Week 1
Ethical Dilemma Paper
Hillary Fullmer
ETH/321
December 15, 2014
Joseph Eshelman
Ethical Dilemma Paper In the last century, we have held science and technology accountable for creating new drugs to help treat terminal and harmful diseases that we contract throughout our lives such as HIV. Pharmaceutical companies obtain patents to protect their work from being stolen from them, and produced at a cheaper cost by generic manufactures. This creates the ethical issue of making the drug untouchable to those with HIV that are not wealthy enough to afford the medication they need to survive. Why do pharmaceutical companies not want to share their patented information? What is a patent pool and how is it saving lives? An ethical dilemma can …show more content…
Pharmaceutical companies rely on their patents as a source of income that could be reduced by allowing generic companies to copy their drug and make it at a lower cost. If the companies’ profits are cut in half, this gives less money to them and hinders the amount of money they can contribute to the next strain of drugs necessary for those living with HIV. The money they make is used for research and development of these lifesaving drugs are included in the cost of the medication. This is why the prices of the first AIDS drug was twelve thousand dollars per year per patient when it was first released. The ethical dilemma that arises from this is the people that need the drug may or may not be able to afford the medication they need to survive. Pharmaceutical companies began trying to work with the manufactures and offer the medicine to those that did not have the means at a discounted price however they were not reduced enough for many that needed the drug to live. These actions affected a man residing in Kenya by the name of Nelson Otwoma that was suffering from the disease AIDS. He was not wealthy and did not have the means to
Hillary Fullmer
ETH/321
December 15, 2014
Joseph Eshelman
Ethical Dilemma Paper In the last century, we have held science and technology accountable for creating new drugs to help treat terminal and harmful diseases that we contract throughout our lives such as HIV. Pharmaceutical companies obtain patents to protect their work from being stolen from them, and produced at a cheaper cost by generic manufactures. This creates the ethical issue of making the drug untouchable to those with HIV that are not wealthy enough to afford the medication they need to survive. Why do pharmaceutical companies not want to share their patented information? What is a patent pool and how is it saving lives? An ethical dilemma can …show more content…
Pharmaceutical companies rely on their patents as a source of income that could be reduced by allowing generic companies to copy their drug and make it at a lower cost. If the companies’ profits are cut in half, this gives less money to them and hinders the amount of money they can contribute to the next strain of drugs necessary for those living with HIV. The money they make is used for research and development of these lifesaving drugs are included in the cost of the medication. This is why the prices of the first AIDS drug was twelve thousand dollars per year per patient when it was first released. The ethical dilemma that arises from this is the people that need the drug may or may not be able to afford the medication they need to survive. Pharmaceutical companies began trying to work with the manufactures and offer the medicine to those that did not have the means at a discounted price however they were not reduced enough for many that needed the drug to live. These actions affected a man residing in Kenya by the name of Nelson Otwoma that was suffering from the disease AIDS. He was not wealthy and did not have the means to