The following ethical scenario was obtained from http://www.cwru.edu/wwwethics.
The responses here are opinions and there are no right or wrong answers. Some example responses are included here for consideration:
a. What would be your recommendation?
b. Suppose one of the countries under consideration was the country of origin for you or your recent ancestors. Would this affect your recommendations?
c. Now suppose you are not asked for a recommendation, only an opinion. What is your response?
d. Suppose it is suggested that the bad units be sold to a third party, who would very likely sell the units to these countries. Your comments?
e. You are offered gratis one of the bad units for your use at home, provided that you sign a release indicating your awareness of the condition of the unit and that it is given to you as a test unit. Assume you cannot retrofit it and that the product could be very useful to you. Would you accept the offer?
f. Suppose it is suggested that the offer stated in part (e) be made to all employees of the company. Your comments?
a. What would be your recommendation?
This is controversial, but one could argue that it is acceptable to sell the units in those countries as long as the risk was disclosed and the user accepted those risks.
b. Suppose one of the countries under consideration was the country of origin for you or your recent ancestors. Would this affect your recommendations?
If one conscientiously made the “right” recommendation in part (a), it should not affect their recommendation now.
c. Now suppose you are not asked for a recommendation, only an opinion. What is your response?
Replying the same as in (b) would be ethical.
d. Suppose it is suggested that the bad units be sold to a third party, who would very likely sell the units to these countries. Your comments?
Again controversial, but an ethical person would ensure that the risks were made aware of to the third person and to the countries.
e. You are offered gratis one of the bad units for your use at home, provided that you sign a release indicating your awareness of the condition of the unit and that it is given to you as a test unit. Assume you cannot retrofit it and that the product could be very useful to you. Would you accept the offer?
It doesn’t seem unethical to accept the unit, or unethical on the part of the company as long as both parties are aware of and accept the risks.
f. Suppose it is suggested that the offer stated in part (e) be made to all employees of the company. Your comments?
I think the fact that the company makes employees aware of the risk makes this an ethical offer.
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