CASE STUDY ON ETHICAL ISSUES IN ENGINEERING PRACTICE - CHAPTER 7 Date: October 27, 2015 Course Section: 5IE-A Subitte! b":
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Ignacio, Inna Ysabel
2011029495
Miranda, Jamille ri!a
20110"5""7
#e$es, %a!el Anne
20110""25&
'$, ()eenie Ysabel
20110""1*0
E$ecuti%e Suar"
+e cases on tis cater .ere abo)t En/ironmental, om)ter, and #esearc Etics En/ironmental etics tals abo)t te resonsibilit$ o3 engineers to incororate green engineering or s)stainable design to rod)cts so tat it .ill gi/e no arm to o)r en/ironment om)ter etics tals abo)t acing )sing te com)ter itsel3, and )sing imroerl$ a com)ter so3t.are as an engineering tool 6astl$, #esearc etics tals abo)t onest$ in cond)cting researc eeriments and reorting its res)lts +e 3irst t.o cases are bot abo)t medical radiation o/erdose accidents bro)gt b$ radiation tera$ macines +e main reasons 3or tese .ere errors in so3t.are and s$stems engineering, and /ario)s )man errors +ere .ere b)gs in te so3t.are and it laced sa3et$ s$stem in case o3 mal3)nctions .ic ca)sed te slo. ain3)l deat o3 te atients 8ossible alternati/e 3or tese sit)ations is te installation o3 ard.are sa3et$ s$stems and so3t.are mod)les In tis .a$, i3 te s$stem breas do.n, man)als can be )sed b$ te oerator to imlement correcti/e actions As a res)lt, radiation oisoning .ill be re/ented and atients can be ass)red tat te$ are recei/ing roer and sa3e 8age & o3 &'
treatment +e case abo)t Isleta 8)eblo .as di33erent among te oter cases It so.s as a good eamle o3 )tilit$ etics .ere te go/ernment cose te action .ere most n)mber o3 eole .ill liel$ bene3it Moreo/er, discarging .aste into a ri/er is eticall$ .rong and /iolates te rigt etics o3 eac indi/id)al li/ing near tat ri/er +e best alternati/e 3or tis case is to treat te .aste.ater be3ore discarging it to te ri/er In tis .a$, ad/erse ealt e33ects can be re/ented On te oter and, te last tree cases re/ol/e aro)nd recogni!ed researcers cond)cting scienti3ic st)dies and modi3$ing te act)al res)lts to come ) .it better o)tcomes +is ind o3 ractice is eticall$ .rong and /iolates some codes o3 etics As a conse)ence, tose researcers 3aced )miliation and seticism 3rom oter researcers all o/er te .orld +ese researcers so)ld a/e reorted te res)lts o3 te eeriments tr)t3)ll$ I3 te$ did not obtain desirable res)lts, one ting te$ co)ld a/e done is to do 3)rter researc rater tan )blis an )nreliable st)d$ In s)mmar$, te gro) recommends tat engineers, on designing a certain ro:ect, so)ld al.a$s tae te ealt and sa3et$ o3 te eole serio)sl$ Moreo/er, insections in e/er$ eeriment so)ld be done toro)gl$ As 3or )tting te res)lts o3 te eeriments in .riting, one so)ld deli/er it .it all onest$
II# Stateent o( t)e Prob*e &# Acci!enta* O%er!oses in +e!ica* Ra!iation T)era," +ac)ines ; +e +erac-25 .as a macine mostl$ )sed 3or radiation tera$ o3 cancer atients It .as
rod)ced b$ a anadian coman$, te Atomic Energ$ o3 anada 6td
-ra$ otons or electrons +e electrons are )sed to treat t)mors relati/el$ close to te s)r3ace, .ile te >-ra$ otons are )sed terae)ticall$ on
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deeer t)mors 'nlie te re/io)s /ersions o3 +erac macines, te +erac-25 .as igl$ controlled b$ com)ter so3t.are and did not contain an$ ard.are sa3et$ de/ices ; +e )se o3 te macine lead to man$ accidents tat in/ol/ed o/erdosing and radiation oisoning o3 cancer atients +e accidents .ere ca)sed b$ te )neected mal3)nctioning o3 te macines In/estigations cited t.o ma:or areas o3 concern 3or tese accidents? @$stems Engineering and @o3t.are Engineering +e macine ad an ecl)si/e reliance on te so3t.are +e so3t.are engineers did not test te so3t.are eno)g to ens)re te sa3et$ in )sing it Moreo/er, tese accidents also aen beca)se o3 te increasing comleit$ o3 te macines )sed in radiation tera$ ; O/er &21 radiation treatment mistaes .ere reorted bet.een Jan)ar$ 2001 and Jan)ar$ 2009 d)e to ard.are mal3)nctions, so3t.are mal3)nctions, and /ario)s )man errors # Tra!e Secrets o( Ca!ence Desi.n S"stes /ere sto*en b" A%anti Cor,oration ; adence esign @$stems is said to be te largest s)lier o3 electronic design a)tomation rod)cts
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; +is Indian tribe as a tradition o3 drining .ater directl$ 3rom te ri/er d)ring religio)s ceremonies Ceca)se o3 tis tradition, Isleta 8)eblo raised concerns regarding te concentration o3 arsenic in te ri/er .ater +e arsenic concentration .as d)e to te se.age treatment lant o3 te cit$ o3 Alb))er)e ; +e lant meets all alicable En/ironmental 8rotection Agenc$
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4# S5e,ticis Arose on t)e Disco%er" o( Co*! 6usion ; +e rocess b$ .ic t.o atoms :oin togeter, or 3)se, into a single ea/ier atom is called
3)sion B)sion is te energ$ so)rce o3 stars, lie o)r s)n .ere it taes lace at abo)t 27,000,000 B <'nderstanding @cience Hebsite= ; On Marc 19*9, electrocemists @tanle$ 8ons and Martin Bleiscman claimed tat te$ a/e rod)ced 3)sion at room temerat)re .ic te$ called cold 3)sion +e eat rod)ction .as attrib)ted to te breado.n o3 te ea/$ .ater d)e to electrol$sis, .ere te de)teri)m .as to)gt to get to a densit$ s)33icient to initiate 3)sion ; @eticism arose regarding te disco/er$ o3 cold 3)sion beca)se 8on-Bleiscman eeriments did not so. tat te reaction o3 de)teri)m rod)ced coi)s amo)nts o3 triti)m Ceca)se o3 tis, an internal in/estigation .as done b$ +eas AKM 'ni/ersit$ +e anel 3o)nd tat tere .ere lases in roer scienti3ic roced)re, # G)ost/ritin. o( +e!ica* Researc) Artic*es ; +e gost-.riters in medicine are medical .riters )sed b$ armace)tical comanies or contract researc organi!ations and medical comm)nication agencies tat ser/e te ind)str$ @ome medical .riters are emlo$ed b$ te ind)str$ or its ser/ice agencies, oters are sel3emlo$ed and .or )nder contractL Articles .ritten b$ medical .riters are )blised in medical :o)rnals +ese articles can in3l)ence doctors and olic$ maers in teir decisions tat a33ect ealt
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Causes o( t)e Prob*e &# Acci!enta* O%er!oses in +e!ica* Ra!iation T)era," +ac)ines
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Accidental o/erdoses in medical radiation tera$ macines ca)sed de/eloment o3 s$mtoms o3 se/ere radiation oisoning tat e/ent)all$ lead to te slo. ain3)l deat o3 te atients +e main reasons 3or tese .ere errors in so3t.are engineering and s$stems engineering +ere .ere b)gs in te so3t.are and it laced sa3et$ s$stem in case o3 mal3)nctions %)man errors also contrib)ted to te accidents .en te oerators contin)ed .it te roced)re e/en i3 tere .ere mal3)nctions Also, te oerators became )ite ro3icient and 3ast in entering data
# Tra!e Secrets o( Ca!ence Desi.n S"stes /ere sto*en b" A%anti Cor,oration
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adence claimed tat ) to &0,000 lines o3 code de/eloed b$ its o.n so3t.are engineers ad been )sed b$ A/anti +e 3ormer adence emlo$ees .o trans3erred to A/anti ororation .ere blamed in tis crime Cot A/anti ororation and adence esign @$stems .ere sit)ated in te @ilicon Galle$ and so it is common 3or emlo$ees to )it in one coman$ and mo/e to anoter
0# Con(*ict bet/een cit" o( A*bu1uer1ue an! Is*eta Pueb*o
on3lict bet.een te t.o cities de/eloed beca)se Alb))er)e se.age treatment lant )ts .ater into te #io rande .ere Isleta 8)eblo is located +e 8)eblo )sed .ater
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directl$ 3rom te ri/er 3or drining d)ring religio)s ceremonies and so te$ .ant te .ater 3rom te ri/er to be otable %ence, te con3lict .orsened .en te 8)eblo demanded to en3orce a stricter .ater )alit$ standard 3or te .ater discarge b$ Alb))er)e
'# 2uestions on 3a*i!it" o( N-Ra"s
Clondlot claimed to a/e disco/ered a ne. 3orm o3 radiation and so oter scientists also tried is eeriment in an attemt to rerod)ce te res)lts e reorted 8ro3 JH Hood tra/eled to Fanc$ to obser/e te eeriments 3irstand %o.e/er, Hood didnDt see te eected res)lts and reorted no correlation on te ass)mtion o3 Clondlot regarding te F-ra$s As more researc .as er3ormed, it became clear to te Brenc tat tere .ere no F-ra$s
4# S5e,ticis Arose on t)e Disco%er" o( Co*! 6usion
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@eticism arose on te disco/er$ o3 old B)sion b$ @tanle$ 8ons and Marle$ Bleiscmann o3 te 'ni/ersit$ o3 'ta +eir disco/er$ didnDt bea/e according to te old r)les and te anel later claimed tat it .as d)e to te lases in roer scienti3ic roced)re Moreo/er, it .as claimed tat te res)lts .ere d)e to roblems .it te meas)rements and inad/ertent contamination
# G)ost/ritin. o( +e!ica* Researc) Artic*es
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#esearc taing lace in )ni/ersities is 3)nded b$ armace)tical comanies and tere .ere reorts on gost.riting o3 researc articles b$ armace)tical comanies +)s, te researcers incororated signi3icant amo)nts o3 material .ritten b$ emlo$ees o3 dr)g comanies into teir o.n researc b)t tere .as no acno.ledgement o3 teir contrib)tion
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Decision Criteria an! A*ternati%e So*utions Accidental Overdoses in Medical Radiation Therapy System Alternative Solution
Pros
Cons
Install ard.are sa3et$
Installing sa3et$ s$stems
@a3et$ s$stems .ill increase
s$stems to tera$ radiation
.ill re/ent atients 3rom
te o/erall cost o3 te
macines
accidents
radiation macine
+est te so3t.are mod)les
I3 an error occ)rred d)ring
+esting te so3t.are is time-
and incl)de doc)mentation
te treatment, te oerator
cons)ming and costl$
on te man)als
.ill :)st loo at te man)als and 3ollo. te instr)ctions In tis .a$, accidents can be re/ented Radiation Problems Continue
A*ternati%e So*ution
Pros
Cons
esign s$stems in s)c a
I3 )alit$ is incororated at
A )ser-3riendl$ s$stem ma$
.a$ tat it is eas$ to oerate
te design ase o3 a
be costl$
and simle 3or oerators to
s$stem, ossibilities o3
)se roerl$
3ail)re can be re/ented Avanti Corp vs Cadence Design System
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A*ternati%e So*ution
Pros
Cons
Intellect)al roert$ so)ld
+is .ill re/ent a
%a/ing te roert$
be atented
cororation or coman$
atented ma$ be o3 con3lict
3rom a/ing carges
.it te coman$Ds interest
+rain emlo$ees to be lo$al
+is .o)ld re/ent
+raining emlo$ees is an
on te coman$
emlo$ees 3rom )itting
additional cost 3or te
and mo/ing to cometing
coman$ Also, tere are
comanies
reall$ emlo$ees .o .o)ld .ant to si3t to anoter coman$ to earn more ro3it and recognition
The City of Albuquerque vs !sleta Pueblo "ater Case A*ternati%e So*utions
Pros
Cons
Bollo. .ater )alit$
ond)cting a correct .aste
Bollo.ing te norm can be
standard 3or discarging
.ater treatment .ill re/ent
costl$ +e .aste.ater
.aste.ater to te ri/er
ad/erse ealt e33ects to
roced)re is also time-
tose eole .o get teir
cons)ming
drining .ater in te ri/er The #$Ray Case A*ternati%e So*utions
Pros
Cons
Eeriments so)ld be
ond)cting eeriments
ond)cting se/eral
cond)cted in a .a$ tat it
tat are credible .ill a/oid
eeriments time-
.ill be credible eno)g to
an$ criticisms 3rom oter
cons)ming It ma$ also gi/e
be )blised
eole
di33erent res)lts .ic 8age && o3 &'
roibits te )blication o3 a artic)lar disco/er$ Admit onestl$ i3 oneDs
I3 te disco/er$ .as 3o)nd
@cientists all o/er te .orld
claim .as 3o)nd to be
in3easible, tis sit)ation .ill
.ill critici!e $o)r .ors
in3easible
)rs)e oter scientists to do
once te$ a/e 3o)nd tat
more researc
one o3 $o)r claims seemed to be not credible
The Case of Cold %usion at Te&as A'M (niversity A*ternati%e So*utions
Pros
Cons
#esearcers so)ld be
8er3orming eeriments
8er3orming eeriments in
resonsible 3or er3orming
ob:ecti/el$ .ill gi/e an
an ob:ecti/e manner can be
teir eeriments in an
acc)rate res)lt
o3 con3lict .it ersonal
ob:ecti/e manner
interests
8roer scienti3ic roced)re
Bollo.ing te correct
#es)lts ma$ be a 3ail)re and
so)ld be 3ollo.ed
roced)res .ill gi/e an
s)c 3ail)re .ill earn
acc)rate res)lt
criticisms 3rom oter researcers
)host*riting of Research Articles A*ternati%e So*utions
Pros
Cons
#es)lts o3 eeriments
8)blising tr)t3)l res)lts
#eorting te correct res)lts
so)ld be reorted
.ill re/ent $o)r .or 3rom
o3 an eeriment can
tr)t3)ll$
being called into )estion
inter3ere .it oneDs ersonal interest on te s)b:ect matter 8age & o3 &'
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Recoen!e! So*ution
Gario)s )netical iss)es .ere so.n in te se/en cases In te 3irst t.o cases, radiation tera$ macines mal3)nctioned beca)se o3 te 3ailed design o3 its ard.are and so3t.are +e s$stems and te so3t.are engineers .ere eld liable to tis roblem +e gro) recommends tat in designing, an engineer so)ld al.a$s consider te ealt and sa3et$ o3 te eole +e$ m)st also be toro)g in testing teir design be3ore releasing it to teir c)stomers Moreo/er, 3ail-sa3e mecanisms so)ld be incororated in te design o3 a rod)ct to sec)re sa3et$ o3 )sing it +is mecanism .o)ld el re/ent te macine 3rom ca)sing arm As 3or te case A/anti or /s adence esign @$stems, te gro) recommends tat intellect)al roert$ so)ld be et secret and comanies so)ld train emlo$ees on andling trade secrets In te case +e it$ o3 Alb))er)e /s Isleta 8)eblo Hater ase, te gro) recommends tat te go/ernment so)ld toro)gl$ .eig te balance bet.een te bene3it and cost o3 a certain iss)e +e$ can al$ )tilit$ etics on tese cases so tat a large ortion o3 te societ$ .ill bene3it Bor +e F-#a$ ase, te gro) recommends tat in eosing te res)lts o3 te eeriments, it so)ld be done .it all onest$ eseciall$ .en it re)ires )blications +e ase o3 old B)sion at +eas AK-M 'ni/ersit$ te erson resonsible 3or te ro:ect is te one .o so)ld be doing te eeriments Moreo/er, roer roced)res so)ld be 3ollo.ed .ile cond)cting an eeriment 6astl$, 3or te case ost.riting o3 #esearc Articles, te gro) recommends tat in .riting researc articles, one so)ldnDt be biased, briber$ so)ld not be acceted e/er$ting so)ld be .ritten in all onest$ since e/er$ bit o3 in3ormation te$ .ill contrib)te on te article .ill liel$ a33ect te decisions o3 medical ractitioners 8age &0 o3 &'
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E$terna* Sourcin.
arol, # + <2014, Jan)ar$ 22= Blondlot and N-rays. Brom +e @eticNs ictionar$? tt?sediccomblondlottml @ina, E <2014, Jan)ar$ 1&= Ethical Editing – Ghostwriting is an unhealthy practice. Brom @ciE6O in 8ersecti/e? tt?blogscieloorgen2014011&etical-editinggost.riting-is-an-)nealt$-ractice adence esign @$stems Inc /s A/antP ororation <2002= Trade Secrets 6e/eson, F Medical Devices: The Therac !. Hasington? 'ni/ersit$ o3 Hasington Alb))er)e /s Isleta 8)eblo Hater ase <2012= 10
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