Problematic Promotion of Medications by Nurse Ambassadors-Legal and Ethical Issues

This Viewpoint explains how pharmaceutical companies use nurse ambassadors, paid registered nurses who interact with patients in home or phone visits to facilitate provision, administration, and refills of expensive medication, and implications of a 2020 settlement between AbbVie and the state of California requiring improved disclosures but largely allowing the programs to continue.

Automated summary

Pharmaceutical companies utilize nurse ambassadors, paid registered nurses who interact with patients in home or phone visits to facilitate provision, administration, and refills of expensive medication. Despite a 2020 settlement requiring improved disclosures between AbbVie and the state of California, these programs are largely allowed to continue.