Code of Conduct - Question & Answers
2. Advertising
& Information Dissemination - January 2006
Question 1:
Is email acceptable as a means of announcing new products
to the Special Audience (Drug Info Centers, Poison Control
Centers, etc.) as outlined in Sections 2.3.2 and 2.3.3 of
the Rx&D Code?
The wording of the Code seems clear; however, it may simply
that the Code has not been updated to reflect new way of communications.
We believe that the spirit of the Code would be achieved if
we follow the following process:
1. We now we have a specific contact from every organization
on the Special Audience mailing list. Before this, many of
the organizations in this Special Audience only had a general
mailing address for these kinds of notices.
2. Within the last two months, the mailing supplier, has
called every organization on the Rx&D mailing list and
secured the appropriate contact name and email address. The
supplier asked specifically for the name of the person that
expects to receive these kinds of notices.
3.The supplier will put in place a 2nd procedure for emails
that bounce back. If that happens, the supplier will then
follow up with a fax or a notice by regular mail.
4.We will be attaching a delivery receipt to each message
to make sure it transmits to the final destination.
5.Each email will also include a link that the recipient
will be asked to click on to confirm that they have read our
message. This is the equivalent of the "read receipt
request" utility in MS Outlook, which does not work with
messages sent outside of a network.
Response:
It is understood that all member companies will take whatever
internal measures needed to communicate related product information
within agreed upon timelines. All written communication means,
(e-mail, fax, courier) are acceptable and must follow the
member company's internal processes. Irrespective of
the method of written method of communication employed, member
companies should maintain complete and accurate records of
such sensitive correspondence and have a tracking mechanism
to ensure its receipt.
Your suggested process may serve as a good internal reminder
for communicating with e-mail.
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