Ethics in healthcare

Ethics involves the moral principles of what is right or wrong behavior. In the case of marketing and advertising a major ethical issue is invasion of privacy and stereotyping. When a company conducts market research to determine their target market, for example, it can be problematic if the analysis of the population is taken in an irresponsible manner which places a certain group into a category. This can lead to undesirable results resulting in stereotyping. Another example of an ethical issue of marketing is selective marketing. Specific targeting of certain markets such as minorities, homosexuals, and plus size markets are all examples of how selective marketing can disenfranchise a company’s market sector. This can result in public scrutiny over the company’s true values.

Ethical issues also exist in advertising. In certain cases violence and sex can come across as offensive. What is observed as right by one culture can be viewed as wrong by another culture. In the United States we see violence against women as wrong. So an ad promoting violence can be a slippery slope. Another example is the advertisement of condoms. Many ads have become acceptable by some interest groups because it aligns with the interest of AIDS-prevention, however, it can be seen by some as promoting promiscuity.

Ethics revolves around product safety in several different ways. First, a product sold by a seller is to be deemed safe without any risk (Majtan & Dubcova pg.2). If the implied implications of risk are known to the buyer then the seller is free from any liability. However, if the risk or danger of a product is not implicitly stated on a product or device then the seller is deemed responsible. Second, a new product that is introduced to the marketplace should come with information that the consumer can know of all information and risk associated with the product. Consumers expect to be advised of all terms and conditions of a product once it is introduced to