Cardenas Diana, Fuchs-Tarlovsky Vanessa
Faculty of Medicine, Research Institute on Nutrition, Genetics and Metabolism, El Bosque University, Bogota, Colombia; School of Medicine, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.
Department of Oncology, Hospital General de Mexico, USA.
Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2018 Jun;25:133-138. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2018.03.118. Epub 2018 Mar 30.
Multi-level marketing (MLM) of nutrition products has experienced dramatic growth in recent decades. 'Wellness' is the second most popular niche in the MLM industry and represents 35% of sales among all the products in 2016. This category includes dietary supplements, weight management and sports nutrition products. The aim of this paper is to analyse whether this practice is legal and ethical.
An analysis of available documentary information about the legal aspects of Multi-level marketing business was performed. Ethical reflexion was based on the "principlism" approach.
We argue that, while being a controversial business model, MLM is not fraudulent from a legal point of view. However, it is an unethical strategy obviating all the principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence and autonomy. What is at stake is the possible economic scam and the potential harm those products could cause due to unproven efficacy, exceeding daily nutrient requirements and potential toxicity. The sale of dietary and nutrition supplements products by physicians and dieticians presents a conflict of interests that can undermine the primary obligation of physicians to serve the interests of their patients before their own.
While considering that MLM of dietary supplements and other nutrition products are a legal business strategy, we affirm that it is an unethical practice. MLM products that have nutritional value or promoted as remedies may be unnecessary and intended for conditions that are unsuitable for self-prescription as well.
近几十年来，营养产品的多层次营销（MLM）经历了显著增长。“健康”是多层次营销行业中第二大受欢迎的细分领域，在2016年所有产品的销售额中占35%。这一类别包括膳食补充剂、体重管理和运动营养产品。本文旨在分析这种做法是否合法和符合道德规范。
对有关多层次营销业务法律方面的现有文献信息进行了分析。伦理思考基于“原则主义”方法。
我们认为，虽然多层次营销是一种有争议的商业模式，但从法律角度来看它并非欺诈行为。然而，它是一种不道德的策略，违背了所有的行善、不伤害和自主原则。关键问题在于可能存在的经济欺诈以及由于未经证实的功效、超过每日营养需求和潜在毒性这些产品可能造成的潜在危害。医生和营养师销售膳食和营养补充剂产品存在利益冲突，这可能会损害医生在服务患者利益时优先于自身利益的首要义务。
虽然认为膳食补充剂和其他营养产品的多层次营销是一种合法的商业策略，但我们断言这是一种不道德的做法。具有营养价值或被宣传为疗法的多层次营销产品可能是不必要的，并且适用于不适合自我开方的病症。
