Professionalism and Ethics Regarding Technology

Ethics and Technology

How did this issue make me feel? Knowing the human disaster that the Bhopal case caused, and reading the supervisor's comments made me angry. "We got along just fine before the regulators ran wild," Adam Baines said. "A few gallons over the limit isn't worth the time it's going to take to fill out those forms," he said. He shows a total lack of business ethics, his attitude is wholly unprofessional, and it gives chills to the person who really cares about the denigration of the environment, especially when humans are going to suffer because of dangerous chemicals being released into the environment due to slipshod preventative measures, or the failure of management to be accountable to the law.

The Utilitarianism ethical theory comes into play here, and it relates to the Mission Statement of Union Carbide (now owned by DOW Chemical, makers of Agent Orange that was used in Vietnam and caused thousands of American soldiers to be sick for years). "Union Carbide Corporation utilizes leading-edge technologies to help our customers around the world introduce superior products and reach new markets. By thoroughly understanding their needs, and working in partnership to improve performance while meeting demanding safety and environment standards, we can create chemistry for their applications" (Union Carbide Corporation "Mission Statement").

The Union Carbide people say they pledge to meet "demanding safety and environmental standards" and hence, they would be working to "maximize the well-being of Society as a whole" but in this regard they did not do a "risk-benefit analysis" but rather they seemed to be doing a "cost-benefit analysis" (it would cost them too much in negative publicity to fully explain the spill).

Why did you feel those feelings? Well, to begin with, an estimated 3,700 deaths resulted from the release of the pesticide ingredient Methyl isocyanate in India. Then to read the callus indifference exhibited, and totally unethical response of the supervisor ("This is ridiculous… I don't want to see any more garbage like this…"), it was an outrageous breach of moral standards. Any action that violates the moral rights of citizens is ethically unacceptable. Human life is so unimportant to a person like Baines that he worries more about his job and his reputation than he does the health and safety of citizens in India. And not incidentally, Union Carbide was an American company operating in a foreign land, and it is well-known that when operating in another country an American country (even if it is partly owned by an Indian company, in this case) has a moral duty to protect the people working in the plant and living near the plant.

What are the ethical dilemmas in this case study? First of all, an ethical dilemma was created when the supervisor chewed out the staff person for writing the report. The duty to not injure others was violated. The duty to treat others fairly was violated too. Why wouldn't the supervisor, who clearly knows the rules, who knows the legislation and policies that apply, and who knows the importance of a company keeping its word, simply look over the report and make certain it is accurate before sending it on to the appropriate person? Secondly, there is a huge ethical dilemma created when a dangerous toxic spill occurs -- that can cause death and injuries -- is not properly reported.

Also, all citizens have moral rights, whether they live in India, Japan, Iran or Mexico. Any actions that violate those rights are "ethically unacceptable" and should be condemned. In the "Virtue Ethics" concept when the individual working for a corporation like Union Carbide -- or any corporation, especially one that has a global presence -- is exhibits good character traits that is considered a virtuous character trait. And when a person takes actions such as Baines' indifference to the health and well-being of Indians that is a bad character trait, or a "vice." This Bhopal exercise points out what kind of person in a corporate context that an newly hired person with upwardly mobile aspirations should not be.

The integrity of a person is measured by how ethically he or she behaves in a situation like this. In many instances, a cover-up of a toxic spill is criminal, for one thing; for another, it can tarnish the reputation of a corporation for years to come. Hence, all the stakeholders involved (including Indian employees and their families) are harmed for generations.