Canadian Internet Pharmacies: Some Ethical and Economic Issues

Abstract

Canadian Internet pharmacies offer potential benefits to patients but also potential harms. These benefits and harms are assessed from both an ethical and an economic point of view. It is argued that the Canadian Internet pharmacy industry produces a favourable balance of good over bad consequences. Criticisms frequently directed towards Internet prescribing are considered and are shown to apply to what are labelled “rogue Internet pharmacies,” but not to the tightly regulated Canadian Internet pharmacy industry.