Marketing in medicine should be governed by certain principles to maintain the ethical integrity of the profession and protect patients’ interest, more specifically it should NOT be done the same way marketing done for “commercial” purposes, like marketing a car brand, or dishwasher detergent. For example, the “shock” or “exciting” tactics should not be used because they may cause misunderstanding about the nature of a medical condition, or trivialize the nature of the subject, namely the human health.
Also, while “dishonest” marketing should not be used anywhere, it is more so in medicine, so “fake” testimonies, and “fake likes” that are done by the marketing agencies themselves rather than “real” patients is one of the worst practices, and unfortunately they are not uncommon in some regions of the world.
Also “self” praising, like calling self or institution the “best in field” or “the leaders in the specialty” WITHOUT independent, proper and impartial evaluation by a “RESPECTED” entity is another of these “dishonest” tactics and reflects low ethical standards by such clinics/institutions or professionals.
In fact the real good or “best” professionals, are ethical and wise enough to understand that it is inappropriate, and unethical, to use such dishonest approach, and they are usually humble enough not to use such “self praising” methods.
So when patients see such “exaggerated” self claims they should be careful with these clinics/institutions because if they are dishonest in their marketing and claims then they are probably practicing a “dishonest” medicine, where their main aim is the financial gain, not the patients’ interest.
