A nurse wants to endorse a product. Is it ethical?

[Anxious Patient]

I am a registered nurse three days a week at a hospital and a bartender one day a week at a country club. I am about to launch an all-natural, premium margarita mix and want to include on the label that it is endorsed by a nurse-me. Ethical? R.D., TUCSON

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/magazine/04wwln-ethicist-t.html?_r=1

[NurseyPoo7]

I dont understand the connection between nursing and margarita mix. Is she trying to give the impression the mix is healthier?

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

It's about as ethical as the weight loss stuff you see commercials for with the subtitled "resident physician" endorsing.

However, I think the most unethical thing is the conflict of interest. Of course you will endorse your own product -- you stand to gain financially. If I were the nurse in question the most I'd do would be putting a little blurb about the creator somewhere on the label. Not a cheesy endorsement, but people who fall for the argument from authority fallacy will still be impressed.

[SharonH, RN]

I see nothing wrong with it as long as the nurse truly believes that the product does what it claims to do. However in this case, how is his or her status as an RN relevant to margarita mix. Surely he or she doesn't mean to infer that the mix is healthy? And besides that, so what? I know very few margarita drinkers who are concerned about whether or not their drink is healthy.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Should we endorse a healthier cigarette? Alcohol is a neurotoxic drug - one that I enjoy very much, thank you, but use in very limited quantities. Now, if you wanted to sell it as a healthier alternative to a real margerita, that's a different story.

[zahryia, LPN]

Should we endorse a healthier cigarette? Alcohol is a neurotoxic drug - one that I enjoy very much, thank you, but use in very limited quantities. Now, if you wanted to sell it as a healthier alternative to a real margerita, that's a different story.

That neurotoxic drug is apparently healthy as red wine. I'm not trying to say that margaritas are healthy but if she puts a healthy ingredient in it, I suppose she can claim some sort of nutrition.:uhoh21:

Listen, these types of deceptive advertising are done all the time. If people are stupid enough to believe it, then go for it and make that money.

[SharonH, RN]

Also forgot to add, that it's important to disclose that he or she stand to profit from the sale of the product.

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

Listen, these types of deceptive advertising are done all the time. If people are stupid enough to believe it, then go for it and make that money.

The question asked is "Is it ethical?"

Just be something happens all the time and there's a sucker born every minute does not make the practice ethical.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I think if she endorses the product as a nurse, then it makes nursing look bad. Either it looks like she's promoting alcohol use or that nursing is so stressful that margaritas are a must for all nurses after a long day at work.

[dria]

imargaritas are a must for all nurses after a long day at work.

aren't they?

[patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP]

aren't they?

i dont understand how a nurse endorsing an etoh product is relevent. i dont see any ethical situation. if this nurse wants to make some money with a good mix, then good for her. i personally dont drink hardly ever, much less margaritas. the same could be said about this recent election how america's nurses supported one candidate over another, i personally did not, so that could be ethical as well. i guess i dont see how being a nurse is going to help sell a product that is not even in the healthcare mix.

[tanthalas]

When people ask "what should I do to stay regular?"

I say "eat more fiber! A couple bowls of All bran will have you going pretty regular!"

I hope I don't get sued or something.