Social workers will come across ethical dilemmas on a regular basis. Ethical dilemmas may include inappropriate nature in the workplace, or having to make a decision that may go against protocols but be morally the right thing to do. During internship, interns will face ethical dilemmas as well and must work to figure out how to adhere to the Code of Ethics whilst making the right decision, especially which is in the best interest of a client. Through following the Ethical Decision-Making Process, workers should hopefully be able to decide what to do and hopefully, it will be in the best interest of the client.
Get original essayIn social work, an ethical dilemma is a situation in which two or more of the social work values are in conflict. Ethical dilemmas in social work can involve inappropriate behaviors in the workplace such as violence or inappropriate language, or can involve other aspects such as contacting a client via social media or breaching confidentiality of a client. Social workers deal with ethical dilemmas on a regular basis, and often must consult with the Code of Ethics to make the appropriate decision on what to do.
The recent ethical dilemma presented at Petersburg Department of Social Services involves a little boy whom is part of a case being handled by the department. The dilemma involves the fact that the little boy desperately needs his medication as the medicine is important in regulating his moods and behaviors. His current caregivers are unable to get his medication due to the pharmacy in the area not having the information for the little boy, and social services does not have the authorization to release the child’s information to the pharmacy for his medication. However, again it is stressed that the child desperately needs his medication, but without an authorization form stating that social services can speak to the pharmacy and release his information, the caregivers are unable to get the medication that he has been without for roughly two weeks.
As some background information about how this situation came to be; the little boy is approximately ten years old, and has been involved in a case being handled by social services since his arrival to Virginia roughly a year ago, where he was staying with his biological father and his stepmother. Toward the middle of October, the family had become homeless and began moving from motel to motel. However, towards the end of October, the agency was notified by the little boy’s school that he had been missing from school for an excessive amount of days. After some investigation, workers were informed that the father had been jailed, and the stepmother had suddenly taken the little boy to a friend of his biological mother; this friend being in Chesapeake, Virginia. Roughly a week later, the primary social worker with this family was informed that the little boy was staying with a friend of this person in North Carolina, and that the little boy had been initially dropped off in Chesapeake with just the clothes on his back – no extra clothes, or the most important aspect: his medicine. This prompted the current caretakers – a couple in North Carolina – to call the agency to figure out what steps could be taken to get the little boy his medication that he desperately needed. However, the agency did not have authorization to release the child’s information to another pharmacy in another place, and so the ethical dilemma came into play.
From reading through the NASW Code of Ethics, this situation conflicts with privacy and confidentiality. As a brief overview, the privacy and confidentiality section of the Code of Ethics highlights that social workers are meant to respect the privacy of all clients and keep information confidential, unless in compelling professional circumstances. For this case, the first two parts of this section stuck out the most. Of the Privacy and Confidentiality section, part A highlights that “Social workers should respect clients’ right to privacy. Social workers should not solicit private information from or about clients except for compelling professional reasons. Once private information is shared, standards of confidentiality apply” (Code of Ethics: English, 2017). Part B highlights that “Social workers may disclose confidential information when appropriate with valid consent from a client or a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of a client” (Code of Ethics: English, 2017).
Who will be affected by the decision? What options are there?
When considering who will be affected, one must look at all sides of the equation and explore all options. Ultimately – no matter the decision – the client will be affected as it is his life that the ethical dilemma revolves around. If the worker were to make a wrong decision or resolve this dilemma in a manner that was wrong, then the worker, or the agency, could be negatively affected. The parents of the client could be affected as well, depending on the decision being made in resolving this dilemma.
There are a few courses of action that the worker could take in resolving this dilemma as well. For one, an option would be to request to speak with his father in the jail where he currently is located, and to have his father sign the authorization form with a new option which would authorize the workers to release the client’s information to the new pharmacy. Another option would be to have his current caretaker try and petition for custody over him, which would hopefully allow for the caretaker to have the information. A final option would involve the worker speaking with a supervisor to see if there is any way to release the information to the pharmacy without the authorization being resigned, as the client really does need his medication for his behaviors.
There are several aspects to consider when weighting the options of how to go about solving this dilemma. The first option would be for the worker to speak with a supervisor, to see if there is a way that the authorization can be “bypassed” in a sense, allowing the child to get the medication without an authorization. An advantage to this option would be that the client would finally be able to get the medicine he needs, and another advantage is that there would not be a need for time consuming activities such as waiting for custody or finding the father to resign the authorization. However, there are a few disadvantages to this option as well. For one, if the worker was to speak to the pharmacy and release information despite having gotten verbal permission from a supervisor, if there is no written documentation then there could be consequences. Another disadvantage is that, again, the information could fall into the wrong hands, which could jeopardize the confidentiality and privacy of the client.
Another option would be to try to obtain a new authorization from the father of our client, which would allow the agency to speak to the pharmacy on behalf of the client. A couple advantages to this idea would be that the agency would then have permission to release information to the pharmacy in the area where the client is located, which would allow for him to receive the medicine he needs. Another advantage would be that if the agency should run into this issue again in the future, the agency would have reauthorized paperwork for future reference. The disadvantages to this however would be that this could possibly allow for the pharmacy to have too much access too client information and to know too much about the client, which could be dangerous if information were to fall into the wrong hands.
A third and final option would be to have the current caretaker petition for custody of the client. An advantage to this would be the fact that the client would then have right to the client’s information which could help to get his medicine. Another advantage would be that the client would then get his medication that he needs. However, there are also disadvantages to this situation. A disadvantage in this situation could mirror that of the first option; if the information were to fall into the wrong hands, there could be a dangerous situation. In addition, if the caretaker were to petition for custody and ultimately win, the agency would no longer have ties to our client due to him being in the custody of someone, which may not be good considering the child still needs services provided by the agency.
If I was the worker in this situation, I would follow the process of making an ethical decision. To begin, I would recognize the problem in my head and ask myself what options to consider. In this case, the problem is that a client needs his medication to regulate his mood and behaviors, but we cannot release his information to another pharmacy without an authorization farm stating that we can speak to that agency on his behalf. After recognizing the problem, I would weigh my options – as done above when considering what route to go down in resolving this ethical dilemma. I would then continue to consider the Code of Ethics and follow the rest of the ethical decision-making model.
Personally, if I was handling this dilemma and wanted to address it, I would try each option – if need be. For example, I would first speak with a supervisor to find out if there is any way to simply gain permission to speak to the pharmacy to get the medication for our client; perhaps such as an emergency order which would allow myself and workers to speak to the pharmacy to get the medication without written authorization from the father. Our hope would be for this to work with only permission from a supervisor. While there are risks involved, this would be the quickest option to get the medication.
If the first option did not work, I would then attempt to gain a reauthorization from the father allowing myself and workers to speak to the new pharmacy on behalf of the son to get the medication. In this case, as stated above, the father would simply resign an authorization form but with authorization for us to speak to the new pharmacy on behalf of his son, for the caretaker to get his medication. If this did not work, we would then look at the third and final option, which would be to see if the current caretaker could petition for custody of the child and in that way, be able to get his medication.
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Get custom essaySocial workers will face ethical dilemmas on a regular basis, from all areas of work whether it be between coworkers or having to decide on how to handle a situation with a client. The Ethical Decision-Making Process is an important tool to use; perhaps not in a written way, but it is something to consider when thinking about how to solve an ethical dilemma. In the end, either the clients will benefit from the decision, or in the worst case, the agency may face consequences of a decision as well. However, social workers must always remember their dedication to the clients, and hope that the decisions will be beneficial to the client without harming anyone in the process.
In this paper I will address the ethical dilemmas one faces when dealing with life and death. I will likewise clarify my perspectives and apply metaethical speculations to a genuine circumstance to close on the theme. My own moral hypothesis incorporates a half and half of Revelation Christian Ethics, Divine Nature Theory and Virtue Ethics. I will initially portray my own moral hypothesis and the application procedure. At that point, I will apply the hypotheses to the genuine situation of the current inquiry. I understand that not every person will have similar emotions or viewpoints and may arrive at an alternate conclusion on the subject. It is alright to have contrasts in suppositions.
Get original essayRevelational Christian Ethics applies to my own hypothesis since I trust that what is in the Bible ought to basically be list metaethics that Christians should live by, despite the fact that it isn't that basic. Numerous people trust that the Bible is an effortlessly translated rundown of principles, yet that isn't the situation. "The Bible isn't some center school bit of writing: it is an accumulation of works that were made over a long span of time by individuals with an assortment of foundations who were imparting some quite propelled religious and philosophical thoughts."Also, the Ten Commandments are moral rules that I trust we should all live by. The world would be a significantly more serene place if everybody put stock in the Lord our God, on the off chance that we respected our dad and mom, if there was not murder or infidelity, and so on, despite the fact that it is inconceivable for everybody to concur on these standards. The other piece of the Revelational Christian Ethic Theory that I have construct my existence with respect to since a tyke is the Golden Rule. I treat others the way I might want to be dealt with.
Despite the fact that this standard has its issues as well, in light of the fact that the way "I" need to be dealt with will be translated numerous ways. The key establishment of Revelational Christian Ethics is the Bible, strengthened via watchful reasoning and comprehension of the heart and soul.2This moral hypothesis mulls over something beyond the words however the genuine application to the circumstances or "hermeneutics" and the investigation of the rationality behind the Bible. This way to deal with morals permits us the mull over something other than the words, and apply it to ending up better Christians and better individuals.
I already felt that I could identify with Divine Command Theory, too, however in the wake of perusing Chapter Eight of Moral Reasoning it has influenced my feeling marginally. When I was acquainted with a Modified Divine Command Theory, towards the finish of the part, more normally alluded to as Divine Nature Theory, I thought I identified with this hypothesis more so than Divine Command Theory. This influenced me to scrutinize my past considerations with respect to Divine Command Theory. In this way, if I somehow managed to add yet another hypothesis to my own hypothesis, it would be Divine Nature Theory. As characterized in the content exhibited to us, "it rejects the recommendation that there is a standard of profound quality outside of God to which God's orders adjust, for the time being the standard is inside to God as a result, God is the Standard."3And despite the fact that not every person has confidence in God, I do. Divine Nature Theory can be summed up as a way to deal with morals to decipher moral standards as an impression of the conclusive ethics that are basic to God himself.4This hypothesis additionally denies the proposal that there is no other standard outside of God. It discloses to us that God is the standard.
Initially, I will address virtue ethics. Basically, this way to deal with morals says, "Great moral choices will be made by great individuals." The piece of goodness morals that best portrays my own moral hypothesis is the way that excellence morals is basically in light of how you are raised and the ethical qualities you hone. "Aristotle watched that there is a purpose behind everything that exists."6Aristotle alludes to excellences as being character qualities that convince you to act and respond ethically. He likewise alludes to excellence morals as a harmony between two extremes or also called, the “Golden Mean." Virtue morals to me, implies that on the off chance that you work on being straightforward, liberal, or just (or rehearse activities that continue a decent good character) at that point you, as a man, will create and turn into a respectable good character. Thus, when you keep on practicing these moral propensities, you will recognize what the correct decisions to make when gone up against with moral difficulties. In spite of the fact that, my issue with the hypothesis is that the all mighty isn’t present.
Part of my ethical theory that I am going to apply to this topic is Revelation Christian Ethics and Divine Nature Theory. This is a most fascinating inquiry, and one that huge numbers of us have needed to manage every so often as friends and family confronted demise. The morphine cure is, as they say, a twofold edged sword. The plan of the prescription is to give the disease casualty, for example, with some help from torment in the horrifying last periods of terminal sickness. In the cases with which I've been familiar, there is no expectation of recuperation. While beyond any doubt the morphine completes have a tendency to limit certain substantial capacities, as a side-effect of the alleviation of anguish, it isn't the plan of the controlling doctor, and the family, to end the life of the patient. In the judgment of most ethically touchy individuals, it is vastly improved to give some easement from the agonizing torment—regardless of whether life is abridged somewhat—than it is to enable the casualty to mope in distress as the inescapable methodologies. This may not be the best circumstance comprehensible, but rather until the point that something better is produced; most minding individuals see no moral issue in the accommodating help of misery.
There are various medicinal methods that are dangerous. In any case, much of the time the doctors, working together with the patient and his or her family, will pick a system, knowing very well indeed that such could bring about death. Now and again, we battle in knowing exactly what to do in endeavoring to spare life or to give comfort. We attempt to do the plain best that we can for the patient. There is an unmistakable contrast, however, in endeavoring to spare life, or to give easement from torment, and in a ponder expectation to end a man's life. The last isn't a moral alternative.
As my uncle lay in pain I thought about physician assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia and one of the real speculations against willful extermination is the Divine Command Theory, which accentuates upon Christian ethical quality and holiness of life. As indicated by this hypothesis, killing in neither structure (dynamic and inactive) are attainable or allowable. This depends on the ground that life is an endowment of God. Hence under any conditions, it is corrupt to end a man's life regardless of whether it is to end his agony. Indeed, even in the event of deliberate killing, i.e., when the patient gives endorsement or makes wills it is required to test somewhat further and find when of time or in what express the patient had influenced his will to with respect to end-of-life choices.
Frequently the reality of the situation may prove that his mark is taken by his family and relatives at the weakest snapshot of his wellbeing and things are controlled as needs be. Indeed, even the patient won't be in a judicious and sensible perspective to practice his entitlement to kick the bucket. This is regularly the situation when the individual is in his seniority and might experience the ill effects of a sort of amnesia or different shortcomings.
Virtue ethics resonates with my experience of life in which the idea of our character is of basic significance. Moral rules that disclose to us what move to make don't consider the idea of the ethical specialist. In spite of the fact that we should settle on moral choices with much care and thought, I don't think of it as astute to strip this procedure of effect or state of mind and spotlight on reason alone. People are advanced animals with a capacity to reason that is tempered by our enthusiastic responses. These responses are a basic piece of how we see and evaluate our general surroundings however they likewise impact our judgments. Prudence morals perceive this imperative segment of our ethical experience. It investigates how moral operators can learn by routine practice how to grow great attributes that will empower us to carry on well. I discovered it an invigorating and energizing disclosure that the character of the ethical specialist could be of urgent significance.
In the event that the patient is esteemed equipped to settle on choices about his wellbeing, he is in this way capable to settle on choices about his otherworldly faith. I think in the case of my uncle he knew it was his time and didn’t want to prolong the inevitable.
In summary the virtue ethicist, after completely investigating the actualities and thinking about the moral sensitivities, would infer that a sympathetic, dependable, and observing specialist or family member would typically regard this current patient's' desires in this circumstance. This does not, be that as it may, amount to a rule
This topic has several elements. The first part that I want to make a conclusion on would be, my aunt took my uncles wishes into consideration. In my mind he trusted her to make his wishes a reality by allowing him to be done with this life. Doing so I felt she showed compassion and approached these ethical dilemmas by stripping away emotional responses and she didn’t try to reason out a solution, but it showed her feelings are fundamental to the human experience.
Knowing, it must be noticed that demise is the most genuine occasion that an individual will involvement—ever! Demise isn't the discontinuance of human presence. It is a change from the earth of this world to a district that obliges a simply otherworldly presence. Passing does not bring a man into a condition of "nothingness;" rather, it is a domain of "some thingness"—and the nature of that some thingness is controlled by how the individual has reacted to the will of his Creator. It is never past the point where it is possible to surrender to God as long as one holds his capacity to settle on capable decisions.
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Get custom essayFurthermore, no individual ought to be denied of that opportunity. Confronting demise furnishes one with the chance of displaying a portion of the best characteristics of which the person is capable. We may terribly belittle a man when we expect that a familiarity with his moving toward death will bring just fear.
The ethical impacts of media productions on teenage interactions Introduction As the demographic cohort of children born after 1995, also known as “Generation Z”, embarks upon the educational system and the job market, many factors surrounding the effects of technology and social media come into question. An American consulting firm known as BridgeWorks predicts that “Gen Z” will supply approximately 61 million workers to the American job market in the following decades (CNBC). With the emergence of this large workforce, the inclusion of media and video platforms in daily endeavors cannot be ignored. Despite some criticism regarding modern video productions and media themes, the power and presence of technology form an impenetrable wall that continues to stand strong- for better or for worse. It is highly improbable that the use of social media and video platforms on technological devices will decline.
Get original essayIn fact, a survey by the PEW Research Center found that 95% of US teens have access to a smartphone and 45% of teens say that they are online almost constantly. With this, the question becomes: do videos, news, posts, and media impact the decisions, ethics, and mental health of the American youth in a beneficial or detrimental way? While it is certainly true that modern technology and media can influence youth positively by helping them communicate quickly, providing access to a plethora of information, and allowing them to express themselves and their views; modern media also impacts teens notoriously by bolstering the risk of substance abuse, increasing rates of depression/suicide, and reducing self-esteem. Substance Abuse As 2017 came to an end, a historical music trend was broken, to the surprise and dismay of many passionate Rock music fans across the globe. By 2018, Hip-hop/R&B/Rap music had surpassed Rock as the most popular genre of music according to leading market research and data analysis company -Nielsen Holdings PLC (Business Insider).
This development also brought up the long-standing debate about the correlation between Rap music (videos) and drug use in young adults. Denise Herd, Associate Dean of Students at the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Public Health claimed that the dynamics and themes of Rap songs had changed “from cautionary songs, such as those that emphasized the dangers of cocaine and crack, to songs that glorify the use of marijuana and other drugs as part of a desirable hip-hop lifestyle” (HealthDay News). Along with Herd’s statement regarding the glorification of drug and alcohol abuse, the University of California, Berkeley released additional data showing that- by 1993, 69% of rap songs and music videos included references to drugs and that the average adolescent was exposed to 30,732 drug references per year (Sites at Pennsylvania State University). This caused outrage among many Americans regarding the unethical and illegal nature of underage substance abuse and its negative effects on the growth and development of teens. Contrary to popular belief; however, even though rap music and videos pushed the idea of increased substance use in the American youth, many other factors such as the legalization of marijuana (in some U.S. states), the easy availability of false identification cards, and media glamorization have also contributed to this increase.
With the recent release of many popular, yet controversial T.V. shows, music videos, and digital video productions- instances relating to higher depression and suicide rates have been brought to light. Recent data gathered by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in American youth aged 10 to 24 (CNN Health). Experts affirm that increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide can be closely correlated with the emergence of a new social media age which glamorizes serious mental health illnesses in an effort to be “relatable” and gain a wider teenage audience. Many research outlets contain data showing that the American youth has not only become vulnerable to believing sensationalized, digital depictions of mental illness, but in many cases- is also willing to replicate the dangerous and threatening actions taken by fictional characters as a way to feel “connected” to the cause.
The recent release of a Netflix production called 13 Reasons Why caused outrage among concerned parents and news outlets due to its glamorized depiction of serious mental and social issues such as suicide, rape, and bullying. In fact, "research shows that exposure to another person's suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of death, can be one of the many risk factors that youth struggling with mental health conditions cite as a reason they contemplate or attempt suicide," said the National Association of School Psychologists in response to the release of 13 Reasons Why (CNN Health). Many parents have become concerned for the safety of their children in the wake of T.V. shows and songs that explore themes similar to those of 13 Reasons Why. While it is true that a T.V. show cannot be the sole trigger leading to increased suicide rates, it is definitely a contributing factor that may inspire many teenagers to make potentially fatal decisions.
A major topic of discussion regarding social media and video productions has been the issue of self-esteem and self-confidence, especially within the American, female youth. As technology and media creators advance with time, it becomes more difficult for viewers to distinguish fiction and fact in terms of the body images and ideals that they are exposed to on social media and many T.V. shows. Usually, the ideal female form that is “advertised” on social media and televised platforms changes with times and trends; consequently, many women are pressured to match these glamorous beauty standards despite how unrealistic and difficult they are to attain. This has been proven to be true both locally and globally- in fact, a study involving about 1800 females (aged 10 to 46) conducted by the University of South Australia found a direct correlation between increased use of social networking platforms and women feeling pressured to adopt and act on the thin ideal (ThriveWorks). For many women, these unrealistic standards can cause them to feel insecure in their own bodies and faces, which may lead to a lack of self-esteem and confidence.
Although the effects may not seem adverse at first, experts confirm that acting on such beauty standards may potentially lead to the development of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Many women might also engage in unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle choices in an effort to live up to these standards, generating the risk of potentially fatal eating disorders like Anorexia, Bulimia, etc. A study being conducted in Minnesota presented data showing that incidences of anorexia increased significantly in the last 50 years in women aged 15-24 (The National Eating Disorders Association). These studies found that women are at a higher risk of developing mental illnesses than their male counterparts due to the continuous pressure of conforming to an unrealistic beauty standard shown in music videos and T.V. media. Conclusion Generation Z may be creating a turning point from a traditionally self-reliant society to one that revolves heavily around the use of technology. It is difficult to weigh all the pros and cons of this change due to the vastness and complexity of its ethical impacts on both American and global youth. Many might argue that although social media, T.V. shows, music videos, etc. may influence teens to make unethical and hazardous decisions, the ultimate choice to enact these decisions is in their own hands. While there is some truth to these statements, it is important for media creators to understand the amount of influence they can have on emerging youth. With that said, it is crucial that these creators establish a clear line between fiction and reality in order to ensure their viewers do not develop risks of substance abuse, mental illness, or low self-esteem due to the irresponsible glamorization of these hazards in media.
Time travel is ethical because we can learn about the past, solve unsolved crimes, and visit lost loved ones. Time travel has shown that can be very helpful in most cases. Lacking knowledge about how the future will evolve given changes to the past is no different than lacking full knowledge about the future consequences. We have the knowledge of how the past turned out but we can go back in time to see what we did wrong and improve our work. Changing the past will only just affect us so it’s better if we learn from our mistakes and make improvement.
Get original essayBeing able to time travel back to the past, it can be very helpful because many scientists don’t have much information about some diseases or what the climates have been before. Time travel is ethical because we can learn about the past and that could successfully have better material if we knew about the past. It can upgrade on what we have already learned. Knowing what type of weathers and electricity, and much more can help us learn things quicker and move on things that we actually need to focus on. Like what Katherine Anne Porter quotes “The past is never where you think you left it”. It speaks about how past isn’t finished and we still have more to learn about and we should be concern about learning about the past.
Having a time travel machine could help the DEA or the police solve unsolved crimes which the cases has never closed because they couldn’t find any evidence or things to prove their point. “Past crime scenes could be reconstructed almost perfectly with multiple video recordings and three dimensional imaging techniques, and would greatly improve the quality of court evidence, and perhaps even deter crime”. Having a time machine can actually solve murder cases like Tupac who is a rapper or even Biggie that is also a rapper. By being able to solve cases can cause them to finally close then work on other cases and solve crime cases more faster and easier.
Many people who has lost a loved one, feel really upset and depressed because they don’t get to see their loved ones. If people have access to a time machine to just visit and relive their past then it could actually change many people’s lives. Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes “It is not length of life, but depth of life”. It stands out by telling you that it shouldn’t matter about the length but depth so when you time travel, you should worry about the depth you go into when visiting a lost loved one. It can teach you many things about death.
Many people disagree because they think visiting lost loved ones or solving unsolved cases or learning about the past, doesn’t mean anything and you just have to move one and let it go. “People will just take advantage of the time machine”. They are not wrong but they aren’t right either because for first there is people who can take advantage of the time machine but if we had a contract signed and rules set on it, it could really help with people taking advantage and it can also heal many people by letting them see their lost loved ones. Also letting scientist and doctors and much more learn about chemicals and cures for diseases.
Apple Inc. is a technological company based in California, United States of America. It is most known for its iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, iPods & Mac products. Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak & Ronald Wayne today serves globally & has 500 retail stores as of 2018. It is the world’s largest IT company & the world’s 2nd largest smartphone manufacturer. It also has well known subsidiaries like Shazam.
Get original essayThe name “Apple” was inspired by Steve Jobs visit to an apple farm where he thought the name “Apple” was fun, spirited & not intimidating. Apple was one of the very successful companies of the 1970s & has made its way to the Fortune 500 at the 3rd position. It developed its own operating system for its devices, MacOS for the personal computers, the iOS for the iPhones, iPads & iPod touch, watchOS for the Apple watch & tvOS for the Apple TV.
Human Resources Management is defined as the process of hiring employees that will, with development, become more valuable to a company. The process of HRM includes recruiting the right people for a position, providing them with orientations & training, managing the salaries & benefits along with evaluation the personnel performance & ensuring clear communication with all employees.
Apple headquarters in California have faced lawsuits from numerous female employees claiming that the sexual harassment & jokes has gone on far too long. Women represent around a 3rd of the workforce at Apple & numerous women have made allegations of a hostile work environment with the fear of retaliation if they do take some action against their co-workers. Additionally, women have alleged that they have trouble growing in the company regardless of the amount of experience they hold due to the majorly dominated male organization that are given top level positions.
After Facebook being under fire about the violations of the right to privacy of its consumers, all companies including Apple updated their privacy policies. In the past, a hacker group known as The Turkish Crime Family claimed access to around 250 million iCloud accounts, threatening to reset the passwords & wipe their devices if a ransom (in bitcoin) isn’t paid.
In the annual audit of 2017, Apple outlines the working conditions of the workers making its products. It was discovered that there are 44 “core violations” of the labor rules, twice the amount of violations in 2016. Serious violations include the falsifying the work hours data. Employees were forced to pay extra money just to get a job. In a case, more than 700 foreign workers recruited from Philippines were charged to work for a supplier, Apple later forced the supplier to pay back the money.
Apple has had several lawsuits filed against its largest competitor, Samsung. In 2011, Apple filed a lawsuit claiming Samsung’s phones & tablets infringed on their intellectual property: style, patents, trademarks & user interface to which in 2012, the jury ruled in favour of Apple, awarding Apple $1.049 billion in damages. With appeals, Apple has officially lost $120 million in damages received from Samsung.
Apple’s major supplier, Foxconn, is the world’s largest electronic manufacturer. It manufactures iPhones & iPads for Apple & also employs over 900,000 workers. 240,000 of these workers are working in the plant. In 2010, several media outlets reported several cases of suicides at Foxconn. 13 workers had committed suicide from 2009 to 2010. With investigation it was found that the internal management at Foxconn was poorly managed, with military style management where workers weren’t allowed interaction between each other & they worked for over 70 hours a week (which is 10 hours above the Apple’s supplier code).
Additionally, it was reported that the child labour issues at the computer, iPods & iPhones suppliers had worsened in 2011 revealing 91 children working at the suppliers.
Sexual/ Racial Discrimination and Harassment:
To stop such misconduct, Apple can take these 3 practical steps:
i. Tone from the Top- To take a lead on the stoppage of such harassment reports, Apple needs to have its say on all the employees directly from the top, i.e. the CEO. CEO has the biggest impact than anyone else in the company and no one else can make it as clear to the workforce about the seriousness of this ethical issue and that any kind of racial or sexual judgement will be taken lightly than him/ her. Effective establishment, enforcement and encouragement of the rules must be implemented. The HR can’t solely do anything unless it comes from the top.
ii. Establish the procedure into everyone’s performance evaluations- Build a 0 tolerance harassment-related policy into every manager's performance objectives. Make it as strict as possible where the workers know that one mistake will Make them regret. One strike & you're out. Zero room for mistakes has a way of getting people's attention. & also, for the record, sexual pestering is not always a mans fault, (women are also reported to have sexually harassed men) & women can also faultily accuse men, & every allegation should be considerately examined.
Establish Reporting Programs- So many racial/sexual harassment issues go un-noticed because no one knows where to report the problem or are inflicted with the fear of ridiculed. There’s only one solutions to this, to provide a universally known and accessible & safe place to report it. It can be in the form of a website, a hotline or even a unit in the organisation. If the process is dealt with fairness & integrity its good to go.
Apple has the ability of tracing any reported lost device as it has a database of their serial numbers & an internal kill switch being maintained by the company for all devices. This switch can shut down & erases any application in the user s phone if it is being used maliciously. As the Apple's iPhone comes equipped with a GPS, which can make it possible for location anywhere on earth by use of a combination of 24 satellites. With the enormous apple servers iPhones can be located anywhere on earth. Apple can also be able to track the frequency of use of their products & have data on consumption per country. By use of the GIS, mapping & tracing of lost iPhones can be made possible by apple. There might be existing services for tracking & recovery of iPhones but this whole course can be more efficient if apple was in charge.
A theft monitoring system would cost the company a large budget as more than a 100 million iPhone are in use today worldwide. The management should commit itself to ensure ethical practices even with any kind of system that apple has. With the company’s large databases on users of their products including their names, addresses & the serial numbers of their iPhones it would be easy to get information to displease our privacy.
Apple has a moral obligation to give back to the societies that enable it to prosper & grow. The tracking system can be viewed as a social responsibility for the company. “With its size & revenues, it is argued that power comes with a responsibility” (Grow& Hamm, 2005). During decision making process every organization should consider the social & economic consequences of the business decision. As there is no direct easy answer to as to what’s the solution in such situations the management should take a deeper consider the situation (Jones, & Chase, 1979). A moral compass or even an ethical algorithm can be used by the management while developing a solution to the situation.
Apple must ensure safe and secure working conditions not just in the Apple head quarters but in the second party and third-party agencies too. Ethical officers should be appointed to regularly check on the conditions and report to the authorities.
Happier employees make more productive employees- Unless an employee engages in his job with heart and soul he can’t prosper.
Comply with the safety regulations- Legally all organisations are obliged to follow some rules and regulations on behalf of employees, heath insurance, life insurances can be promised for their utmost safety.
Create a staff policy- Regardless of whatever position an employee is, a code of conduct should be applied to all.
Procedural Justice- If the leaders are seen making fair decisions, workers also tend to follow the same pattern of instructions without the fear of being mistreated. The CEO should make it aware for everyone that no malpractices would be tolerated.
Suppliers should not request the employees to undergo a forced medical for elimination for recruitment, job projects, termination of employment and training except where it is required by the law. Suppliers should ensure the harassment free environment too, by employing
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Get custom essayApple should also ensure that third party labor agencies also adhere to the rules. They must guarantee that for any contractual employment, all terms and conditions are explained in brief to the employees. Child labor should not be used by any supplier of apple with the minimum age for employment being 15 years or the age set by the specific country based on the educational system whichever is higher. Working hours per week also should be restricted to only 60 hours including overtime with at least a day off in a week. Apple found itself in a guilty situation after an audit revealed that workers worked for more than 60 hours a week. The minimum wage rate policy should also be recognized, and all the workers should be given equal right.
The "right to fail" is not just an economic and business issue, but it also has ethical implications for society and individuals. The right to fail refers to the idea that individuals and businesses should be allowed to fail without interference from the government or other institutions. This concept is often associated with capitalism, as it is believed to encourage innovation and risk-taking. However, the ethical implications of the right to fail are complex and multifaceted.
Get original essayOne of the main ethical implications of the right to fail is that it can lead to increased inequality and social injustice. When businesses are allowed to fail without interference, it can lead to increased unemployment and poverty, as individuals lose their jobs and businesses close down. Additionally, the right to fail can lead to increased inequality, as the wealthy are more able to weather economic downturns and recover from failure, while the poor are more vulnerable to the negative consequences of failure. This can perpetuate systemic injustice and lead to a society where certain groups are disproportionately affected by failure.
Another ethical implication of the right to fail is that it can lead to a culture of individualism and lack of empathy. When individuals are encouraged to pursue their own self-interest without considering the impact on others, it can lead to a lack of empathy and concern for others who may be affected by their actions. This can lead to a society where individuals are more focused on their own success and less concerned with the well-being of others.
Furthermore, the right to fail can also lead to a disregard for the common good. When businesses are allowed to fail without interference, it can lead to increased unemployment and poverty, as individuals lose their jobs and businesses close down. The impact of unemployment and poverty can be particularly severe for vulnerable groups such as low-income families, minorities, and individuals with disabilities, as they often have limited resources to fall back on. The lack of job opportunities and economic instability can also lead to reduced access to healthcare, education, and other essential services, further exacerbating inequality and social injustice.
Additionally, the right to fail can also lead to increased inequality, as the wealthy are more able to weather economic downturns and recover from failure, while the poor are more vulnerable to the negative consequences of failure. The wealthy may have access to resources and connections that allow them to quickly bounce back from failure, while the poor may not have the same opportunities. This can perpetuate systemic injustice, where certain groups are disproportionately affected by failure, and can lead to a society where the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.
Furthermore, the right to fail can also lead to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few, leading to a lack of competition and reduced opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs. This can further entrench the existing power structures and lead to a lack of economic mobility for the majority of individuals.
In addition, the right to fail can also lead to the erosion of social safety net programs and the reduction of government support for those who are struggling. The idea that individuals and businesses should be able to fail without interference can lead to a belief that those who fail have only themselves to blame, and therefore don't deserve support. This can lead to a society where there is little support for those who are struggling and a lack of concern for their well-being.
In conclusion, the right to fail can have a significant impact on inequality and social injustice. It can lead to increased unemployment and poverty, increased inequality, concentration of wealth and power, erosion of social safety net programs, and reduced government support for those who are struggling. It's important for society to consider these consequences when discussing the right to fail and strive for a balance between the benefits and negative consequences.
Ethics is a collection of knowledge that deals with moral principles (i.e. act of right or wrong that is accepted by an individual or a society group) and theories is a set of principles on which practice of an activity is based. Ethical theories are more applicable in each sector and more used in ICT industry. So, the field of morals has a wide level of martialness in different division. The main purpose of report is to elucidate all main theories of ethics that’s applied in ICT and skilled code of ethics related to the ICT industry. This report covers moral theories associated with ICT and describe every of the them in details and this report highlights the comparison and distinction between all moral theories (i.e. rights vs virtue, relativist vs objectivist and consequentialist vs deontology)
Get original essayThis theory defines an individual activity as ethically right or wrong by judging the same based on the individuals character involve on the same rather than act itself or virtue is a trial which allows one to fulfil one’s character well. For instance, what is required to be an excellent professor is different than what is required to be an excellent soldier because soldier and professor both have different function.
There are three main components of this theory that are described shortly below:
This above element of virtue ethics connected to the field of ICT however there are couple of examples which are considered ethically untrue by other moral speculations but assume awesome part on the stage of Virtue ethics. For example, transfer of films, songs and video and alternative proprietary content from net may be an ordinarily apply done by several users. Which Is considers as morally mistaken by hypotheses, for example, Consequentialism. No matter how, on the basis of virtue ethics it is consider as ethically correct it prompts the joy of people. It conjointly says that the content downloaded from net for amusement and private joy and share to families and friends then there’s nothing wrong within the activity.
The second theory of ethics and its parts that applied to ICT is that the theory of rights where action or decision would be considered as ethically corrects if it respects the rights of other people. Rights theory is the subset of deontological theory which are provided to the individual when the discussion is on the rights. There are many different types of rights. Some of them are the major rights that people have legal rights, human rights and contractual rights. right to vote is legal right because it arise from law and legally enforceable freedom of speech is an example of basic human rights that all people should be entitled to because they are human being while contractual rights arise from agreement or relationship. For instance, right to purchase a particular product or service, right to be sell a product or service, rights to be the only seller or buyer are come under contractual rights.
The theories applied to ICT business because it portrays a specific demonstration by estimating it with the rights that are given to a person. For example, there are particular laws in every single nation that denied people to transfer particular class of substance on the web which significantly incorporates the substance that may hurt a political branch or the legislature. but this theory permits every and each people to use his/her rights totally to expression and belief.
This is additionally the speculation of ethics which is applicable in each sector that structures its choice on the way that mortality is in respect to traditions, practices, conviction and standards of the one’s way of life and society. That is different societies have different moral codes which determines what is right or wrong in that society. Calling the action ethically right in that society makes it right which action may wrong to other society and there’s no objective standard that can be use judge one society’s code against another.
This theory applies in the ICT world. For instance, Facebook is a site that is obstructed in certain piece of the world. Likewise, there are a sure number of association that permit the utilization of Facebook and other informal communication application while some of them disallowed people from the utilization period of such applications due to legitimized reasons according to the standards of the general public. Be that as it may, there is no limitation on these applications in alternate parts of world.
In moral objectivism moral qualities and ideals are free on anything outside of them. In moral objectivism moral law is uncreated and interminable and not subject to any will, heavenly or human. Moral absolutism is additionally one kind of moral objectivism. No will can lessen the outcome of acts illegal. There is no beauty in ethical objectivism. so as to avoid penalty, one should excellent one’s life and follow the law absolutely. The law of destiny, continuous birth, death and rebirth till such ethical perfection Is reached, seems to be the last word expression of moral objectivism.
This hypothesis recommends that any movement within the world of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry will be considered as morally right of its sticks to the laws that flow and deal with the same. For example, downloading copyrights files from internet is consider as ethical correct over virtues ethics while the can be legal punishments regarding such act which is consider as morally off base under the hypothesis of objectivism.
This hypothesis of morals says that a demonstration is ethically right just and just if the final product of a similar demonstration don’t hurt any reality in any capacity. There are two essential standards in the hypotheses which are incorporated beneath:
There are diverse types of this hypothesis, for example, hedonism says that human joy ought to be on top need in a demonstration while then again utilitarianism says that the utility of act is of prime significance.
Its activities are applicable in the ICT industry. There are act which are defended based on other moral hypotheses however as named as ethically false based on the negative result of the same. For instance, the case of downloading of the proprietary content from the web at no cost is ethically correct only by virtue ethics if same act is connected for individual advantage. In principle of consequentialism this act is consider as ethically incorrect since same ends up in loss for the owner of the content who upload that files on the internet. Despite the fact that there might be lawful commitments for the substance suppliers and the client. Major result out of this act cause injury to the associated parties and thus, virtuously and ethically incorrect.
Deontology theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong. Kant believed that moral actions follow universal ethical laws like don’t lie, don’t steal and don’t cheat. this may be merely apply as a result of it’s simply needs that individuals follows the principles and do their duty that tends to suit well with our natural intuition regarding what’s or isn’t moral. This theory doesn’t contemplate the outcomes, consequences or virtues behind associate degree act as a result of people merely have to be compelled to follow set of rules.
Professional code of ethics and practices:
There are seven controlling rules that oversee the Code of Ethics.
Connection between codes and ethical theories
The ethical theories that are mentioned higher than attach to those principles as each single theory supports that the most effective practices should be followed, and therefore the harmony is additionally inspired by all. one among the theories that varies from the principles of ACM and IEEE computing is virtue ethics that place personal interest higher than the general public interest.
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Get custom essayThere square measure varied varieties of moral theories that square measure applicable in ICT business. These theories have nice relationship between the codes of ethics that’s utilized in the skilled ICT business. These all totally different principles that square measure somehow similar in some cases and for the most part distinction in different cases. Theory of virtues ethics forms judgment on the premise of the happiness that’s created by associate act associated theory of consequences judges the on an equivalent of positive and negative implications of an act. In distinction, theory of deontology relies upon the adherence to the rule that governs associate action whereas theory of objectivism justifies associate act on the extent of adherence to the law that could be a similar parameter.
In this essay, I will describe, explain and defend my preferred ethical theories, which are the virtue ethical theory and the utilitarian ethical theory. I will also make an effort to adequately demonstrate how they act as a guide and will identify their strength and limitations. I will articulate a preference for the two aforementioned ethical theories, by providing adequate and meaningful explanations and justification for each ethical theory independently. First let me define ethics and ethical theory, two of the most important concepts that will be used in this essay. What is ethics? We often hear the term ethics used but yet isn't always clear of what the definition and or meaning is. By and large speaking, ethics refers to the study of right and wrong behaviors.
Get original essayI am faced with many situations daily and have to always decide on what course of action to take. Should I act based on ethical principles or should I disregard ethical principles in deciding what to do? The ethics that I choose to adopt and practice, and the ethical theories that I learned in Ethics in Governance course provided me with the ethical principles and values that I need to be able to answer such an important question. How do I respond to these situations? Virtue ethics and utilitarian ethics provide some answers.
According to Fieser, J., Ethical theories are a systematic effort to understand moral concepts and justify moral principles and theories. There are different ethical principles and each comes with its pros and cons and is looked at from various perspectives and or standpoints. Again let me restate my preferred ethical theories, the theories that will remain the primary focus of this short essay, they are the virtue ethical theory and the utilitarian ethical theory. The first ethical theory that will be discussed is virtue ethics. Virtue Ethics emphasizes an individual's character as the key element of ethical thinking, rather than rules about the acts themselves. Deontology and consequentialism are two ethical theories and or philosophies that are associated closely with virtue ethics. In my understanding virtue ethics is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the role of an individual's character and virtues in evaluating the rightness of actions. As mentioned before it is often compared with deontology ethics, which emphasizes following moral guidelines, and consequentialist ethics, which determines the acceptability of an action from its consequences.
Here is an example of how virtue ethics impacted my decision. Virtue ethics promotes good moral principles such as honesty, integrity, and fairness, which is in line with my decision to not steal even where there is an opportunity to do so. I have just demonstrated how virtue ethics have caused me to do something that is regarded as good. Generally stealing is considered to be wrong, while stealing is accepted to be wrong based on the virtue ethics of honesty. Let me reiterate the meaning of ethics by providing an additional definition to substantiate my application and the example provided. Ethics refers to a theory or system dealing with values concerning human conduct, concerning the correctness and wrongness of certain actions, and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.
Virtue ethics acts as a guide to my behavior and value system. For example, if I am in a situation where I can easily steal an item that is valuable to me, I would not have stolen the item because of my preference in virtue ethics, most importantly the virtue ethics of honesty. This is one case where ethical theories, principles, and values have helped to shape my daily decisions and actions. Taking this course of action based on virtue ethics could be of a disadvantage to me because now I will be without an item that I value and is meant to be, but I am committed to being honest under most if not all circumstances. Kindness towards someone who is having a bad day can make him or her smile and build rapport. I am taking this opportunity to encourage you to be virtuous. This is one of the reasons why I preferred virtue ethics. Virtue ethics offers an account of right and wrong based on what a 'virtuous agent' would do. Virtue ethics indicated that an action is right if and only if it is what a virtuous person would perform in any given circumstances. I selected virtue ethics as one of my preferred because of my character and personal value system. I am honest, kind, transparent, responsible, generous, fair, and just. I would not engage in wrongdoings even if it is beneficial to me and that is very much under virtue ethics. It is now clear that my behavior is directed by good values and habits, and based on the definition provided for virtue ethics where it was implied that the foundation of morality and virtues is the development of good character qualities. In my daily life decisions and actions, I always do that which is right to be considered a vitreous person. I have moral excellence and as such share a strong preference for virtue ethics. We all can agree that a virtuous person has personal qualities such as honesty. They do what is accepted as being right, not act according to impulses and selfish desires.
Virtue ethics have many positives that I do benefit from by being a virtuous person. Firstly, I am motivated to practice good molarity, to make decisions that are beneficial to others, and I am also encouraged to be honest by virtue ethics. It is important to note that virtue ethics is a good way to build society as it helps citizens to be good people. The limitation that I experience from practicing virtue ethics is that sometimes it is difficult to decide what to do when faced with a moral problem and what would be considered right based on the situations at hand. I think this is one of the biggest flaws of virtue ethics, there is no definitive answer to what to do in cases of a moral problem. An additional weakness of the virtue ethics theory is that may overlook important obligations, but knowing that obligations should be based on ethical principles and less on shared share responsibilities, lightens the burdens. However, I must state that the positive outweighs the negative in virtue ethics.
Secondly, I will discuss utilitarian ethics. According to Duignan, B., & West, H. R. Utilitarianism provides an answer to the question 'What ought a person to do?' The answer is that a person ought to act to produce the best consequences possible. In my understanding of utilitarian ethics, wrong or right is based entirely on outcomes. Wrong or right in this regard is based on the consequences derived out of an act or decision. Utilitarian ethics is based on the idea that the consequence of the act is the most important determinant of the act being moral or not.
One of the most identifiable and relatable benefits of utilitarian ethics is that it focuses on humanity by trying to achieve the greater good. For example, persons dedicating all their lives to charities is good for humanity and will achieve the greater good however that person may have to sacrifice having wealth. It is always good to promote humanitarian behaviors and for me that is a plus for utilitarian ethics. I would not hesitate to do what's best for humanity. Conversely, utilitarianism is very demanding and requires great sacrifice.
For example, I was in a situation where I had food and was hungry but homeless persons were around so I assume they were hungrier than me. I had opted to give my food to them and tolerate hunger. My action achieves the greater good because they now have food. Giving my food away to hungry persons was kind of a humanitarian act. I have to make a sacrifice that could have impacted my health, but based on utilitarian ethics it is the right thing to do. It is the greater good that matters. Which I think is indeed correct but is however demanding. According to Regoli, N. additional benefits of utilitarian ethics are utilitarianism focuses on the majority as a group for happiness instead of everyone, seeks to achieve the highest good, and focuses on majority happiness as a way to determine ethics and morality.
Conversely, the person may not favor utilitarian ethics since it is accepted as s widely denigrated and misunderstood. My major issue the utilitarian ethics is that it clearly states the primary role of ethics is human well-being and that what should matter to us most is how our lives go, it's the outcomes and consequences that matter most. I have to stand against that knowing and believing that morality is about treating everyone equally, that is, considering their well-being equally. I think virtue ethics is a better representation of considering everyone's well-being. To add to that utilitarian ethics is very demanding. Utilitarianism may also force persons to disregard to go against integrity which is not in line with virtue ethics. Imagine a society where persons are lacking in integrity, it doesn't add to the morality of society. According to Savulescu, J. Bernard Williams, a famous critic of Utilitarianism, once infuriated Dick Hare, a modern father of Utilitarianism, in a TV interview by asking him, 'If a plane had crashed and you could only rescue your child or two other people's children, which would you rescue?' Utilitarians should rescue the two strangers rather than their children. I think such a choice is way too demanding this was too demanding.
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Get custom essayIn conclusion, my two preferred ethical theories are virtue ethics and utilitarian ethics. I prefer virtue ethics because it encourages citizens to be good people. My issue with virtue ethics is that it doesn't clearly indicate what to do when faced with a moral dilemma. Unitarianism is considered favorable since it focuses on achieving the greatest good and it focuses on majority happiness as a way to determine ethics and morality. My issue thou with utilitarianism, it is way too demanding.
In the book Taking Sides authors Lisa Newton and Maureen Ford present in issue five the question Are business and medicine ethically incompatible. Professor of medicine, Arnold S. Relmans essay Analysis of What Market Values are Doing in Medicine is used to present a case for yes they are incompatible. Assistant Professor of business, Andrew C. Wicks essay Analysis of Albert Schweitzer or Ivan Boesky? Why We Should Reject the Dichotomy Between Medicine and Business is used to present a case for no they are not incompatible. I will analyze these two works, noting credibility, thesis statement, facts and opinions, problems and propaganda, and logical errors in each individually. The argument against incompatibility is very compelling; nonetheless, it fails to address the possibilities for misconduct that a medicine and business model posses. Without resolving these specific concerns, we must be cautious about buying into Mr. Wicks theory that they are not only compatible, but also similar.
Get original essayCredibility
Andrew C. Wicks, the author, is an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Business. This work of his was originally published in the Journal of Business Ethics, volume 14 (1995). His profession and the respect afforded his work by the Journal of Business Ethics make him credible on the topic of ethics and business. He states early in the essay, that his approach to this subject is that of an ethicist trained to reflect on normative issues.
Andrew Wicks outlines the premise his essay is built on with this thesis statement, My underlying goal is to help reconceptualize how we think about both medicine and business, and in doing so, reshape how we approach the American healthcare crisis.
It is a well known fact that our healthcare needs reform through cutting costs, reducing waste, spurring innovation, recognizing scarcity, avoiding replication of services and expensive technologies, educating physicians to be more active gate-keepers of health services, increasing access and minimizing costs. After acknowledging the need for renovation and reform the author moves on to refute the oppositions rejection of the business model by correcting misinterpreted terms. We are accurately reminded, self interest is a concept different from selfishness and greed, and that the former is perfectly compatible with serving other moral ends while the latter is not.
Mr. Wicks does an effective job in convincing us to share his opinion that the way people view medical ethics should be tempered somewhat, along with peoples view of business ethos. He does this by pointing out that very few physicians are capable of the altruistic ethic imposed on them and very few businesspersons are selfish and greedy as some have implied. The truth about motives, regardless of profession, lies somewhere between the two extreme views, and it would be beneficial to the healthcare system and patients to recognize this reality. With this recognition we can begin to agree that combining ethics and self-interest is about rehabilitating our extreme views and adopt a new view or moral code that makes trust, respect for others, decency and fair play central concepts that can and should be applied to both medicine and business individually and cooperatively.
I want to say it is oversimplified which is true if you try to apply this moral code as the solution to the specific issues of conflict of interest. However, the real problem is that it only addresses an individual piece of the issue. The author is working from the side of business to develop a kinder view of business; he does not address any potential conflict of interest issues.
A double standard exists as Mr. Wicks points out that the oppositions concerns regarding the cost of the commercialization of medicine create an over simplistic picture, while his own essay is based on a single point that innately oversimplifies the medicine and business model issues. In addition, he has thrown a couple of meaningless statements into this work. Included in the meaningless statements is this one where he says the only difference between the medical model and the business model is that the medical model encourages over treatment whereas the business model encourages under treatment. This theory-based generalization is not supported by common knowledge or a single example. Later he makes the same error when he says that when treatments are being offered, they are also being denied, thus implying that there only a fixed number of any specific treatments available to the public. My guess is that he was intending to state that healthcare money is tight, too tight to give everyone every test and service.
Merks story was good to hear, though it offered nothing to disprove the oppositions argument. It was an empty category. The debate is not about whether or not businesses can make humane decisions, it is about who should make healthcare decisions or healthcare facility decisions, doctors or business persons; and can physicians be objective clinicians when they have personally vested interests in healthcare facilities and research programs.
A Selective sample is considered when saying the physician benefits when patients are provided aggressive and excessive care. Though this may hold true for some specialties, it does not hold true for most primary care providers. Third party payers frequently give these physicians a flat fee based on the number patients they serve. This fee is the same regardless of the level of care or number of visits a patient receives. In addition, Mr. Wicks makes the procedural error of arguing in a circle; he does this by reaffirming the same argument throughout the essay.
Though Mr. Wicks notes that this new view of medicine and business is not a healthcare reform fix-all, he does imply that this modified mindset will fix a lot. However, the only points he makes an effort prove are the ones pertaining our views of medical ethics and business ethos. He shifts the burden of proof on all other claims made in this work.
The author, Arnold S. Relman is considered credible as he is both a physician and a professor of medicine. As a professor of medicine he is expected to maintain a keen knowledge of clinical healthcare and the business of practicing medicine. This essay was written in 1992. Recognizing that to some extent, this critical analysis of nine-year-old essay presents an unfair means of judgment and its own type of logical error, I will nonetheless move forward with the analysis.
Dr. Relmans thesis statement is as follows Physicians have enjoyed a privileged position in our society, virtually assuring them of a high social status and a good living. They have been accorded these privileges in the expectation that they will remain competent and trustworthy and will faithfully discharge the fiduciary responsibility to patients proclaimed in their ethical codes.
One fact noted in support of this incompatibility case is the declaration made by the American Medical Association in their Principles of Medical Ethics In the practice of medicine a physician should limit the source of his professional income to medical services actually rendered by him, or under his supervision, to his patients. Though not a law, this declaration, written in 1957, clearly exhibits the ethically belief among peers that physicians should not receive financial gain in the field of medicine beyond that received through their own patient care services. Dr. Relman also wanted the fact known that there is an absence of regulations and laws prohibiting physicians from becoming owners, investors and/or contract staff of healthcare facilities, services or allied healthcare businesses. This was of little concern many years ago, but has becomes a concern with technological advances, an increase in investor owned healthcare facilities, and pharmaceutical company inducements and contracts.
Dr. Relman begins his case for concern by prefacing it with the opinion that professionalism among self employed private practitioners thrives when there is more than enough to do. When there isnt, competition for patients and worry about income tend to undermine professional values and influence professional judgment. He then goes on to note that there is an excess of healthcare providers and facilities at this time. Having implied an open opportunity for misconduct, Dr. Relman goes on to state there is an abundance of proprietorship, investor, and contract opportunities available to these physicians. He plainly states his opinion that physician owned medical businesses create a conflict of interest that inhibit physicians ability to adhere to fiduciary relationships with their patients.
Mine is better is displayed in combination with resistance to change as the history of the Hippocratic oath, Maimonides prayer, the International Code of the World Medical Organization, American Medical Society guidelines, and the de facto contract with society are all offered up as supporting evidence for the case for incompatibility. In actuality, these sources display only two things, the historical and traditional ethic of medicine, and the adherence of that ethic by many peers and peer organizations. However, I do not believe the error of an illogical argument based on tradition is present since substantial cause for concern regarding the mix of medicine and business is noted throughout the essay. As a matter of fact, enough cause for concern is presented to cast doubt on presence of the mine is better and the resistance to change problems if it were not for the obvious either or thinking fallacy. This either or thinking is evident by the absence of any alternative solutions.
An unwarranted assumption was implied. It goes like this - without the medical ethic, many physicians motives could not be trusted, and many commercial vendors have no concern for anything beyond profitability. Though both implications may hold true for some, they by no means hold true for enough to warrant this implications.
Relevant information is omitted in the accusation that consumers are unaware of conflicts of interests when physicians under contract with pharmaceutical companies present information or perform relevant patient care services. Federal and local medical associations require full disclosure to patients and audiences, thus any physician failing to do this makes himself liable for a lawsuit.
The statement [i]f physicians are entrepreneurs and hospitals and healthcare facilities are businesses, then paying patients will get more care than they need and poor patients will get less displays the logical error of absolutism and is not believable as stated. First, third party payers keep physicians in check through pre-authorization requirements and/or tracking of individual referral practices. Second, the poorest among us get full healthcare coverage through Department of Health and Social Services or Medicaid. The most likely to get less is the uninsured patient.
An overgeneralization is made in combination with stereotyping when it is said [o]ur healthcare system is inadequate, inefficient, and too expensive. I have spent years participating and observing the labor, pains, and victories of hospital staff as they utilize Total Quality Management, Continuous Quality Improvement, Statistical Process Control and Health Tracks to maximize efficiencies and quality of care in our current healthcare market. Therefore, I know some facilities are providing quality care while maximizing material and human resources in addition to charging appropriate fees for services.
The burden of proof shifts in several areas. In particular it shifts in the over generalized statement that not-for-profit community hospitals are reluctant to provide free services to the needy as they increasingly see themselves as beleaguered businesses. While it is true these community hospitals are struggling, no evidence is provided to support this statement. My personal work experience has proven it to be not true in the case of Seattles Northwest Hospital. Im willing to bet Northwest is not unique among its peers in regard to charity care.
Hasty conclusions are made; some are due to concerns about commercial vendors and some are out of fear of deterioration of the fiduciary relationship society expects from their heath care providers. The overriding hasty conclusion is the one mentioned earlier; with the mine is better attitude the author assumes that there is nothing to be found in business that would be beneficial to the practice of medicine or patient care.
Mr. Wicks makes a very good argument for reconsidering how we frame medicine and business and how a combined moral code could be a more realistic and appropriate way to approach both fields individually and in combination. He asks us to put on this new mindset as we look for answers on how to provide effective solutions to issues through healthcare reform. He falls short in achieving his goal of reshaping how we approach healthcare reform.
Dr. Relman shows us physician peer organizations recommend that physicians not become owners in medical businesses beyond their own practices; however there is nothing in place to ensure physicians comply with this recommendation. Physician owned businesses; shares of businesses and contracts create potential conflicts of interests for patients, and compromise physicians abilities to maintain fiduciary relationships with patients. Though he fails to convince me that physicians are altruistic, he did convince me that careful thought should be given to the regulation of physicians business activities.
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Get custom essayNeither author was able to refute the others argument because one is discussing apples, the other oranges. I agree with Mr. Wicks reality check on motives. Physicians and businesspersons are more alike than different, however he paints a picture that implies most of us are trustworthy, so all of us should be trusted. This argument is appealing but naive and foolish. Physicians have within their hands the lives of our parents, our spouses, our children, our best friends and our selves. The trust and power they hold calls them to a higher level of responsibility and caution. Opportunities for misconduct are plentiful, and measures should be taken to minimize them. Mr. Wicks concepts seem framed and tailored for the encapsulated health maintenance organization, but seem unsuitable for most of the issues discussed by the opposition, Dr. Relman.
Ethics is defined as a system of moral principles. It has played a vital role in human research and the health system for many decades and helped guide moral decisions and ensured no harm or suffering comes as a consequence of human research. Informed consent falls under the area of bioethics and is a big component in medicine today. However, many human and biospecimen research cases in the past have had major ethical and consensual issues that have impacted the medical community. In this review, the focuses are Henrietta Lacks and HeLa cells, the World War 2 experiments, and the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. This review will look at websites that have looked into the issues of consent and ethics in each case and outline the expected paths that each should have taken to make the experiments ethical.
Get original essayHenrietta Lacks was a 30-year-old African American woman that was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer after having her 5th child at John Hopkins Hospital in 1951. Tissue samples were taken and given to a researcher that used her cells to try and grow human cells outside the human body. This was common practice at the time and was not unethical as Henrietta had signed a form stating that she gave consent to anything to be done to her and her cells, however, this was not informed consent. The cells went on to create an immortal line of what is now known as HeLa cells and have helped create vaccines and better the understanding of diseases and viruses. Informed consent is a process enabling patients to make an ‘informed’ voluntary decision in participating in human research, understanding the purpose, procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives to the research they might be involved with. This kind of consent is based on ethical principles.
Federal regulations in the US state that a human subject is a living individual that has given data to an investigator with an interaction with the individual or as identifiable private information. Hence when an investigator interacts with an individual and collects biospecimens specifically for research, informed consent in required as this would be considered human research. However, if an investigator uses biospecimens that have already been collected for another purpose and the specimen is from an anonymous person, it is no longer considered human research, allowing for there to be no informed consent required. Therefore, in order to have not violated consent laws, HeLa cells would have had to be labeled with a code that was unidentifiable by a research scientist, in order for the study to be classified as not being human research. The mistake was that the researcher knew who the cells belonged to and named them as HeLa cells, derived from the patient’s full name. Henrietta Lacks also was not asked for her consent as well as her family not knowing what had happened to her cells. This again was the common practice in the 50s and is still a practice today. However, now there are more standards in place for getting consent.
In Rebecca Skloot’s book, she wrote that lack of understanding may be more important than outright consent. “ If you spoke another language and you needed to see the doctor, you’d be provided with a translator – but if it’s the science you don’t understand, there’s no one there to translate for you, so you go away simply not knowing what’s been said. I think there should be science translators, who are trained to communicate complicated medical stuff in a straightforward, easily digestible manner. It would have made a huge difference to Henrietta’s family.” ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’- Rebecca Skloot 2010. Privacy was also a major issue. Dr. Gey (the researcher) used parts of Lack's name when naming the samples, without her permission. There should be some anonymity and protection for Henrietta Lacks and other patients like her. As Henrietta’s story gets more and more known, information about her and her family’s medical history is becoming more publicly known. There is also no known owner of the HeLa cells and John Hopkins never patented the cells. Due to the questionable ethics in the use of her cells, she is not named the ‘Mother of Modern Medicine’ but is considered a powerful symbol of informed consent.
The ethical misconduct that occurred in the Nazi concentration camps during World War 2 is a great example of ethical and consensual issues. Nazi Germany believed that the dominant race was the Aryan race and introduced practices of ethnic cleansing to somewhat ‘purify’ the population. They often sterilized non-Aryan individuals to prevent the propagation of ‘unclean’ races by X-ray radiation of the testes and ovaries. This method was later found to be non-successful. Dr. Mengele was one of the 200 or so Nazi doctors that experimented on all types of non-Aryan races in critically harming and crippling ways. Experiments were conducted for many reasons, the three main ones being military research ( finding ways to advance the Nazi military in medical ways such as high altitude and freezing experiments), miscellaneous experiments ( experiments that carried no scientific inquiry, such as poison and wound experiments) and racially motivated experiments. It was estimated that around 70 medical research programs at the Nazi concentration camps connected to the German medical establishment used human subjects in the camps for testing of pharmaceutical drugs to fight infectious diseases and gas poisoning. Although this was a horrific event that violated many ethical morals, one of the most significant codes came out of it to help ethical and informed consent, The Nuremberg Code.
The American Medical Association code of ethics did not address human research until 1946 and 1947 (The Nuremberg Code). Prior to World War 2, there were no explicit written codes on ethical human research but there were norms on what could be done in the context to human research. According to unwritten, but real, ethical standards before World War 2, human research was done only after animal experimentation and it was acceptable for a researcher to experiment on themselves or their family before going on to other research individuals. In relation to norms concerning consent, if the research were tied to the possibility of harm it would require consent but otherwise would not for non-invasive research. Some people were also not thought to be capable of consenting, for example, young children and patients in mental asylums. Paying subjects was also accepted at the time and if a subject granted a researcher to do anything to him or her, they would be considered mental and may be deemed suicidal. Due to the horrible ethical misconduct of the Nazi experiments, it has now sparked a conversation about the ethics behind using the data from these experiments in modern research. Some believe that the Nazi’s data could have the potential to save lives. Even though the data is morally tainted, the data collected by Nazi doctors may have learned something that could help save countless lives or benefit society. Kristine Moe suggested that by using data from these experiments ‘good’ would be derived from evil.
“Nor, however, should we let the humanity of such experiments blind us to the possibility that some ‘good’ may be salvaged from the ashes” A study that raised a large amount of controversy was the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. This experiment began in 1932 and consisted of 600 participants originally enrolled with the promise of free health care. The doctors from the U.S. Public Health Service running the study told these men they were being treated for bad blood (a commonly used term to refer to a variety of illnesses) but were really seeing a full progression of syphilis. There was a control group of 201 and a group of 399 participants with latent syphilis. The men were monitored by health workers and given only placebos, despite the fact that the recommended syphilis treatment was penicillin in 1947.
Physicians were convinced by the public health service not to treat the patients while there were still researching at the Tuskegee institute. As the main aim of the study was to see the full progression of syphilis, no effective care was provided when the participants died, became blind, or ended up going insane due to their untreated syphilis. After public outrage, the study was forced to shut down in July 1972 due to it being very unethical. At that time 28 participants had died due to syphilis; 100 from related complications and 40 spouses were diagnosed with syphilis. It had also been passed on to 19 children at birth. The last patient of the study died in 2004. The Tuskegee study had many major ethical issues involved. This included that none of the participants gave informed consent, participants may have been pressured to agree or might not understand what they're agreeing to, the withholding of treatment for medical purposes, and the beliefs of African American health and diseases clouding the judgment of research.
Informed consent was not given as it was never explained that the study aimed to detect syphilis. Participants were also never told if they did have syphilis or that there was any treatment available for their pain or discomfort. The welfare of the participants was overlooked when they were withheld from treatment. When it came to trial, doctors felt that the repair of existing damage would be minimal or that the damage that may result from penicillin therapy would outweigh the benefits. At the time of the study, there was no data to show the efficiency of penicillin therapy, and short and long-term effects were not documented. When the study was evaluated, it was judged that the benefits of nontreatment would outweigh the benefits of the treatment. Nonetheless, patients were never offered penicillin when it became available, they were instead prevented from being given penicillin treatment.
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Get custom essayAlthough the cases of HeLa cells, the World War 2 experiments, and the Tuskegee Syphilis study occurred decades ago, they are very significant in the world of ethics and informed consent. They helped create, as well as build on ethical codes and rules that bettered human research and biospecimens. With a common issue being informed consent throughout this review, it reveals that even though it isn’t a common thought about part of medicine, it can play a crucial role in deciding what may happen in medicine and research that patients may be involved with. The standards of ethics have been built on these cases and created a better moral standard for doctors today.