Medical Director
Medical Director is a computer software product designed for doctors that is controversial for its use of advertising. It is produced by Health Communication Network (HCN) in Australia.
According to the company "Over 16,000 doctors, representing 85 per cent of computerised GPs and over 1,200 Specialists, use HCN's Medical Director software" [1]
The company claims it's latest version (MD3) has "less advertising interference" by removing the splash screen that previously appeared when printing prescriptions. [2] However researcher Dr Ken Harvey commented that his research found advertising in 24 functions of the software so removing advertising from one section would have little effect. [3]
Dr Harvey's research found that "57 of 60 (95%) advertisements making a promotional claim appeared noncompliant with one or more requirements of the Code". [4]
Official website
External links
- Ken Harvey et al, "Pharmaceutical advertisements in prescribing software: an analysis", Medical Journal of Australia, July 2005.
- Bob Burton, "Ban advertising in Australian prescribing software, say researchers", British Medical Journal, July 23, 2005
- Anon, "GP tells: life in an advertising-infested surgery", Crikey, August 11, 2006
