CANCER GROUP ENDORSING 2 PRODUCTS : CRITICS OF TREND CAUTION DEAL RISKS CREDIBILITY.Byline: Steve Sakson Associated Press The American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, is selling its name to two corporate giants, offering an exclusive endorsement to NicoDerm anti-smoking patches and Florida orange juice for at least $4 million in sales royalties. Ethical watchdogs protested the endorsements Friday, saying the society may seriously hurt its credibility with the public. ``If they want to endorse products, they should do it in the spirit of an educational agency, not as a paid shill shill Slang n. One who poses as a satisfied customer or an enthusiastic gambler to dupe bystanders into participating in a swindle. v. shilled, shill·ing, shills v.intr. ,'' said Paul Root Wolpe of the Center for Bioethics bioethics, in philosophy, a branch of ethics concerned with issues surrounding health care and the biological sciences. These issues include the morality of abortion, euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, and organ transplants (see transplantation, medical). at the University of Pennsylvania (body, education) University of Pennsylvania - The home of ENIAC and Machiavelli. http://upenn.edu/. Address: Philadelphia, PA, USA. . The deals - part of a rising trend of partnerships between nonprofit groups and companies - will provide the society with needed cash to boost its cancer-fighting programs at a time when donations are stagnant. They also give the marketers of these products instant credibility through their association with one of the nation's most respected health groups. But if the trend accelerates, Wolpe predicted medical organizations will some day be endorsing everything from tires and chewing gum to sneakers. ``We're going to end up with the health equivalent of the Olympics,'' he said, adding: ``On the other hand, I deeply understand the temptation.'' That temptation snagged its last big medical association two years ago when the Arthritis Foundation signed a $1 million deal with the makers of Tylenol to sell a line of painkillers with the foundation's name on the boxes. Corporate executives call the concept cause-related marketing. It got their attention in a big way in the 1980s when surveys showed that most people would switch brands - and even pay more - if the companies making those products advocated causes with which they agree. American Express Corp., the Coors Brewing Co. and others accelerated the trend when they racked up higher sales by donating a portion to the restoration of the Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty great symbolic structure in New York harbor. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : America Statue of Liberty perhaps the most famous monument to independence. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : Freedom and Ellis Island, said Daniel Borochoff, president of the watchdog group American Institute of Philanthropy The American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) was created by Daniel Borochoff in 1992[1] to address the continuing need for thoughtful information regarding the financial efficiency, accountability, governance and fundraising practices of charities. in St. Louis. Friday's deal was announced in conjunction with the national introduction of NicoDerm CQ, the second nicotine patch nicotine patch Nicotine transdermal delivery system Substance abuse A device used in smoking cessation Side effects Transient burning, itching–50%, erythema–14%; contact hypersensitivity–2.4%. See Nicotine replacement therapy. to be made available as an over-the-counter drug over-the-counter drug A therapeutic agent that does not require a prescription, which the FDA feels can be safely self-prescribed by non-physicians. Cf Prescription drug, Under-the-counter. . SmithKline Beecham PLC, the big British-based drug manufacturer, will pay the Cancer Society at least $1 million per year in sales royalties for three years. In exchange, the society's logo will appear on NicoDerm CQ boxes and advertising, along with a reference to the two as partners in promoting smoking cessation. In a similar deal, the Florida citrus marketers association agreed to pay the society at least $1 million for one year. |
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