Medical Ethics in Film: Love & Other Drugs - Essay Example

Medical Ethics in Film Love & Other Drugs Jamie Randall, a handsome Casanova who figures out his calling when he transforms from an electronics salesman wooing women to a pharmaceutical rep for a company called Pfizer. Under the supervision of an expert salesman, who is aware of the ins and outs of the business but doesnt possess the looks or confident charm of his new responsibility, Jamie rapidly acquires the ropes. In the year of 1996, clashing brands of anti-depressant drugs are in excessive demand.

Jamie faces no difficulty in getting women to go to bed with him, but after an encounter with a beautiful patient of one of the doctors hes trying to talk into buying from Pfizer, hes stranded. He senses a real association with this impatient, blunt beauty who wants sex but not a relationship (Gross 2010). In the form of Maggie Murdock (Hathaway), Jamie sees himself. Jamie soon realizes that he wants Maggie to be something more than the woman he goes to bed with every night. He is falling for this damaged but intelligent woman.

However Maggies solemn about not considering love or a relationship. Maggie has Parkinsons disease and the physical as well as emotional trauma left her reluctant to permit anyone to get too attached. Written by Charles Randolph, Marshall Herskovitz and directed by Edward Zwick, the movie is grounded on Jamie Reidys entertaining chronicle "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman." Centered on a mood altering concept, the movie gives an insight into the morals, corruption and exploitation factors on-going in the medical arena.

The medical ethics presented in the film are related to the extent pharmaceuticals will go to in order to sell their drugs. All the halts are dragged out in putting across the marketing message to coerce the doctors to prescribe more Viagra™. The protagonist, Jamie Randall, is haughty and flirtatious and attempts to distribute food, gifts as well as flowers, etc. to the staff and the doctors themselves in order to promote Viagra. In the situation of the pharmaceutical representative the typecast is spot on regarding one thing: they fail to provide worth in discussions with physicians.

Dr Knight is in the supporting role of a doctor with questionable medical ethics who will attempt to indulge in activities which will cause one to raise an eyebrow. The ethical viewpoint presented in the movie revolves around the fact that the physician rightly believes that a pharmaceutical representative has no interest in playing an educational part in coaching them how to practice a certain product and cure a condition. The physician accepts as true that the representative is only concerned about the sales of the product they are endorsing rather than the patient consequence.

It stands without doubt that healthcare is commercial. While some desire it wasn’t this way, it is. Attached with any business are costs incurred, investments made, as well as profits to be reaped in the future. The last helps in paying the costs, is invested again in the company, and caters to the salaries for the employees. This is accurate of the big global pharmaceutical conglomerates as well as the minor solo doctor treating patients in a remote area. The commandments of business administer each one.

‘Love and other drugs’ in itself, is highly enlightening as it presents an accurate picture of the hostile way pharmaceuticals operate and the cold as well as insensitive behaviour of the pharmaceutical reps. The movie enables the audience to think about the various issues as well as perspectives and identify with the situations presented. The highlight of the movie is how it attempt to evoke feelings within the audience, sometimes a little too much, to stir the emotions within. Works Cited: Gross, Terry.

“Anne Hathaway: From Princesses To Passion.” 2010. 24 November. 2011