Ethical criteria

WHO Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion, Geneva 1988 (ISBN 92 4 154239 X)... 

WHO. Ethical criteria for medicinal drug promotion. Geneva World Health Organization 1988. 

The Assembly appealed to the pharmaceutical industry, health professional and consumer organizations, and other interested parties to promote the formulation and use of good information practices consistent with the principles of the WHO Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion monitor and report problem cases and aspects of cross-border advertising, promotion, and sale of medical products using the Internet and maintain legal and ethical standards in these activities. 

The 58th Act of 1997 on advertising and the corresponding Decree of the Minister of Health reproduced the main body of the text of the EU Directive 92/28/EEC. Any form of advertising of nonprescription medicines directed to the general public is permitted but such advertising excludes any kinds of reimbursement. Prescription-only medicines may be advertised to pharmacists and doctors exclusively. Professional and ethical criteria are similar to the EU ones. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued the Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion in the late 1980s, which set out suggested standards to be implemented via regulation, international and national codes of practice. 

The interpretation of what is ethical varies in different parts of the world and in different societies. The issue in all societies is what is proper behaviour. Ethical criteria for drug promotion should lay the foundation for proper behaviour concerning the promotion of medicinal drugs, consistent with the search for truthfulness and righteousness. The criteria should thus assist in judging whether promotional practices related to medicinal drugs are in keeping with acceptable ethical standards. 

A yardstick to measure the animal welfare performance of any animal production system must be based on accepted ethical criteria like the right of animals to engage in natural behaviour, and the right to health, food, drink, rest and shelter. 

By taking into account environmental and ethical criteria, it helps give plastics a sustainable character. With regard to the objectives set by the circular economy, these may be from agricultural waste (synthons produced by products of fermentation, fibers, etc.), and it is necessary to optimize their end of life (recycling, compost, or even incineration with energy recovery). 

A. Sullivan, Looking for Shares That Meet Your Ethical Criteria , International Herald Tribune, August 27-28, p. 15 (1994). 

---