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Every occupation has its code of ethics that expounds on the importance of professional honesty and integrity. Ethical standards are paramount because human society consists of a complex interconnected web of mutual dependence. Without a basic level of trust and personal integrity, human organization on a mass scale would be impossible. Therefore, employees should be cognizant of the trust placed in them and consider the social repercussions of their work in addition to any potential financial rewards. This is particularly relevant for engineers since they directly impact the quality of life for all people.
Two cases illustrate the importance of acting in accordance with the public welfare. Firstly, LeMessurier displayed ethical fortitude in 1978 when he called a meeting with Citicorp to confess that his calculations were incorrect and the building was in danger of collapse (Witcher, 2020). He put his career and reputation at risk to expose the flaws in his design, urged officials to implement a remedy, and ensured that ultimately no lives were lost. In the end, LeMessuriers reputation even grew because he was admired for doing the right thing. In contrast, AECL refused to acknowledge any responsibility or recall the Thorac-25 machine after it caused six overdoses due to a lack of safety controls (Huff, 2003). They did nothing to prevent further casualties as patients died, blaming electrical problems and ignoring complaints. They finally looked into the issue only at the behest of the FDA. LeMessurier and the AECL vividly demonstrate the consequences of upholding and violating ethical standards.
In conclusion, professional codes of ethics apply even whenperhaps especially whensafeguarding public interest might result in financial setbacks or damaged reputations. The National Associations Ethical Statement declares that engineers are obligated to act consistently with the publics safety, health, and welfare (National Society of Professional Engineers, n.d.). LeMessurier acted ethically by blowing the whistle on his own design to save lives. On the other hand, the engineers at AECL are directly responsible for at least five deaths because they did not acknowledge their fault even though they were aware of casualties. Society trusts engineers to do their jobs correctly, and they must do everything possible to justify that trust, which includes taking responsibility for and fixing mistakes.
References
Huff, C. (2003). A history of the introduction and shut down of Therac-25. Online Ethics Center. Web.
National Society of Professional Engineers. (n.d.). NSPE Code of ethics for engineers. Web.
Witcher, T. R. (2020). History lesson: Taking responsibility for the Citicorp Center. Civil Engineering Magazine, 90(5), 46-49.
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