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
Every twelve months, more than 100 million creatures are executed in U.S. research facilities for chemical, medication, food, and cosmetics testing; science lessons; and interest driven experimentations (“Medical Testing on Animals Is Cruel And Unnecessary” 1). Some people are convinced that testing medicines on animals is needed so that one day, there may be
Clearly, these researchers had their own agenda to acquire a medical breakthrough that would change the history of science and contribute to the greater good of society. However, their authority was used in an unwarranted manner to accomplish their goals, regardless of their respectable intentions in wanting to make medical progress. In reviewing these researchers and medical practitioners’ actions during the 1950’s which entails series of unethical behaviors and violation of human right, it develops an essential need to establish guidelines in the attempt to protect patient’s rights and privacy. Furthermore, due to the alternatives that arise throughout this case, there are many possible outcomes to be considered that could have a significant impact on stakeholders if these courses of action are fallowed. These solutions consequences may involve the tentative research, an advance way of life for the Lack’s family, political turmoil, economic health impact and a society whose cells may have similar experience.
Drug companies that test experimental drugs in foreign countries are not acting ethically. Testing of experimental drugs should be done in the host country where the drugs are being manufactured. A major ethical dilemma that is
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most powerful and greedy industries in our country, with a goal to make as large a profit as possible, at the expense of the sick.
Through the ages, men have been able to find cures for catastrophic diseases through scientific research. Thanks to these advances, men have been able to prolong the life span of people, or provide better quality of life in cases in which a cure of various maladies has not been possible. To achieve such progresses, scientists have made use of prior knowledge, new theories, and technology obtaining numerous prodigious outcomes. Unfortunately, there have been many who have used questionable means for such ends. The German Max Clara is another case of a man with power and knowledge of science, who has misusing them. This paper aims to briefly identify principles and standards that would have been violated these days according to the existing APA Code of Ethics. Finally, ethical implications of making a moral judgment on past actions by researchers regarding human experimentation are discussed.
Making sound ethical decisions require an intentional process that utilizes thoughtful reflection, supervision/consultation, and action. Many ethical decision making models exist and the seven-step model introduced by Forester-Miller and Davis (1996) is a succinct amalgamation of these earlier models. The model by Forester-Miller and Davis (1996) follows seven progressive steps: (a) identify the problem, (b) apply the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), (c) determine the nature and dimensions of the dilemma, (d) generate potential courses of action, (e) consider the potential consequences of all options and determine a course of action, (f) evaluate the selected course of action, and (g) implement the course of action.
John Moore lost the lawsuit against David Golde, according to the judge he had no right “to ownership interest in the patent - he was not one of the inventors. Nor, it concluded, could a patient exercise property rights over discarded body tissues.” (von der Ropp & Taubman, 2006). The loss of the lawsuit by Moore caused a lot of media attention and again a big ethical discussion in science. As previously said, this story also highlighted the importance of ethical and ownership laws in medical research.
As research and technology progress forward in time, the ethical considerations that must be taken along with, not only method of study but social ramifications continues to grow exponentially. At the time when cells were taken unknowingly from Mrs. Lacks, there were not strict regulatory guidelines as to how consent should be required along with many other now ill-practice methods of medicine seen at the time. Despite agreeing that the
Apply the ethical decision making model presented in week one lectures (adapted from Beemsterboer, 2010; Velasquez et al, 2009) to the case study.
Technical risk, a large portion of all development costs are spent on drugs that never reach the market.
In examining how nanotechnology can eliminate a virus like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using the method of experiments, one must consider the ethical principles before they may conduct this investigation. This experiment involves the use of human subjects and therefore the Belmont Report will inform ethical considerations for this study. “It is important to distinguish between biomedical and behavioral research . . . in order to know what activities ought to undergo review for the protection of human subjects of research” (The Belmont Report). A researchers first concern is not the outcomes of the experiment but the participants safety. The Belmont Report states there are three basic ethical principles: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
This ethical dilemma is clearly a teleological in nature because the outcome is the only thing that is focused on and on the means. Additionally this type of unethical behavior tests these products on individuals that are unlike the individuals the products are being tested for. The developing countries often times are from generations of families that have not had clean drinking water, immunizations, medical care and are malnutrition. Meaning that the side effects and treatment guidelines are based on the data provided form test subjects in that are unhealthy and disadvantaged from the beginning (London AJ). Exploiting the individuals in developing countries for the benefit of helping individuals in developed countries to save money is as repulsive as child labor.
Even though the pharmaceutical industry has made great improvements to human health and quality of life, like creating drugs for the treatment of AIDS, cancer, and other diseases, an increasing tension is growing between the public and the industry. These thoughts are fueled by issues such as drug pricing, affordable health care, and the battle against epidemic diseases in third world countries; social critics wonder whether this multi-billion dollar industry is giving enough back to the community and fulfilling its social responsibility.
Beauchamp, Tom L., and James F. Childress. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 6th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
From time to time, corporate executives encounter ethical dilemmas that seem rather challenging. In this text, I concern myself with an ethical dilemma faced by the top leadership of Nutritional Foods Inc. In so doing, I will amongst other things explain (in detail) the actions I would take were I to find myself in a similar scenario. I will also explain not only the reasoning behind my actions, but also the results I would be expecting.