title: Of snake oil and science.
abstract: The creation of demand for hospital services has no legitimate purpose when it results in the sale of services that are not needed, and competition among providers can be an added cost. For these reasons, marketing principles should be applied in hospitals with an awareness of the limitations established by the ethic that marks the difference between hospitals and other industry.
mesh_terms: D000329:Advertising; D006285:Health Planning; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006761:Hospitals; D011641:Public Relations