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Case Analysis Using The Eight-Step Model Of Merck And River Blindness

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Case Analysis Using the Eight-Step Model – Merck and River Blindness As chairman of Merck & Co., I must discuss the unfortunate case of onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness. As a leading pharmaceutical company, we must make a difficult decision. Our company may hold a cure to a deadly parasitic disease that has caused hundreds of thousands of people to go blind and many more have become severely ill. This disease is caused by black flies which carry parasitic worms which then bite human hosts infecting them. This parasitic disease affects people in multiple developing countries. One of our drugs, Ivermectin, may hold the cure and future research. We must utilize our advancements in this proposed project for the greater good. Using the Eight Steps to Sound Ethical Decision Making, this will …show more content…

Merck & Co. believe that we have a cure for this parasitic disease using one of previously produced drugs for horses - Ivermectin. Ivermectin has shown that it can kill a similar parasite in the horses, although it has not been fully tested on humans. We have a concern about testing the product and launching it because the countries where this disease is active are some of the poorest in the world. How would they purchase it? Consequentialist Perspective - From the consequentialist view point, there are many who will be profoundly affected if the drug is not produced by Merck & Co. Innumerable people will go blind and thus will greatly affect their quality of life. As stated, the parasites cause unbearable itching, which has led some people to commit suicide. Furthermore, these outcomes will affect more than the infected person. It will consequentially impair the lives of their loved ones. Undoubtedly, people with blindness can live a somewhat normal life, although they will also have to rely on others to provide aid with daily

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