Ethics Case

Ethics is defined as, “the study of what constitutes right or wrong behavior.” (Cross & Miller, 2012, p. 76). The actual factual scenario case is where there is a family business that creates a product that is harmful but legal. There have been warnings placed out, but there is nothing being done to fix the product itself. This company donated money to a foundation that shares its name, but there is no connection between the two in this present day. The foundation helps out with several charities that work toward making human’s lives better. Recently, the public has been asking the foundation to switch all of its funds toward fixing the injuries due to this harmful product. The board has not done anything to solve this issue since they have not found an ethically and legal reason to do so. In this factual scenario, there are three major ethical dilemmas and considerations that can be seen. The first is the fact that the government is taking steps to warn the public about the harmful product created by the Alinto family business, but is not doing anything to put a stop to the it. The second dilemma is the fact that there are some members of the public that are trying to promote that the Altino Foundation should divert its focus to helping those with injuries caused by said product but the Foundation hasn’t responded yet. Lastly, is the fact that the foundation would have to give all their funds to help those that the product has harmed. Delving deeper into these three problems is the best way to figure out a lasting solution for the Foundation that appeases everyone involved.

The first dilemma deals with how the government is taking the steps to warn the public about this product that is harming people, but the government is not doing anything to stop the product from being produced. The problem with this is they are not helping anything by trying to prevent the product from harming others, but they are just trying to solve a problem with a short-term solution, which did not help them in the long run. This is ethically wrong because they know that what they’re putting out is hurting people and should be stopped, but since it is legal the company doesn’t feel the need to change their product. It is lawful, but not ethical. As said in one statement of ethical principles under “Respect for Life, Law, and the Public Good” (“Statement of Ethical”, 2013, p. 137), one must “ensure that all work is lawful and justified” (“Statement of Ethical”, 2013, p.137), and that they should “hold paramount the health and safety of others” (“Statement of Ethics”, 2013, p. 137). The family business is obviously following the lawful part of that, but they are ignoring the safety of their consumers.

Another problem is that there is an outcry from the public for the Foundation to shift all their funds to supporting those affected by the harmful product. The Alinto Foundation has yet to respond to the public, not