Health as a Way of Doing Business

For too long, the worlds of business and health have been mired in a checkered, sometimes contentious, history. Millions of deaths worldwide can be attributed to risk factors including tobacco use, alcohol and drug misuse, and suboptimal dietary intake linked to commercial products. Media (including social media) coverage about the safety and cost of many consumer goods, both medical (drugs, devices) and nonmedical, reflect profound public concerns. Longstanding societal scrutiny about the role of business in environmental pollution has only increased in the era of global warming. These and other issues have fueled public distrust about corporate practices. Conducted annually since 2001, the Edelman Trust Barometer Report notes that CEO credibility is hovering at all-time lows.