Business Ethics
In the United States, drug companies enjoy a high-profit margin. It means that when purchasing different commodities, Americans incur high costs, unlike Canadians or Europeans. The drug industry has been noted as the most profitable sector in the economy in the last two years. The United States drug prices do not indicate a fair and competitive market since they sell only a handful of essential drugs with the aim of establishing a top selling market (Williams, 1985). Pharmaceutical companies have ethical responsibilities that contrast with that of small biotechnology organizations regarding research and innovation. For instance, CV Therapeutic is a company that introduced a new drug; ranolazine, which is well known for Angina treatment. The company is in the dilemma of being allowed or prohibited to make ranolazine available in market after developing it. Large companies in the U.S. are not good corporate firms since they use patients in testing drugs whom they many not help in the end if any repulsions arise.
Companies are not guilty of any exploitative prices that are charged for their drugs since they care about the profit margins that they attain. Therefore, Americans should be allowed to import drugs from Canada and other countries where prices are low. Testing drugs overseas enable companies to save money and evade FDA restrictions, which require gaining approval before testing in humans. Countries, which are subjects for testing, are exploited. Companies are allowed to test drugs overseas when animals such as guinea pigs are used as the subjects. In this case, the size of the company does not matter. Drug companies should avail new drugs to patients for free or at fair prices. In this case, Dr. Lange has an obligation of making sure that patients access the drug being developed at affordable prices. Companies should sell useful drugs like ranolazine to underdeveloped countries. It will help in widening its market. Pharmaceutical companies should avail life-saving drugs like ranolazine in underdeveloped countries at affordable prices. It will help in saving lives, increasing drug’s popularity and fighting the dilemma.
Made in U.S.A Dumped in Brazil, Africa, Iraq.
Dumping is the process of exporting hazardous products that have been banned, to other countries at lower prices than the manufacturing prices. The U.S. dumps carcinogenic pajamas overseas and pesticides that cause tumors to animals and build up fatty tissues in humans. It also dumps some pesticides that contain dioxin, which might cause cancer to humans. Dumping of products has raised moral issues about the public health and safety. An ethical relativist would leave the task of maintaining the public health and safety to the government. Dumpers are motivated by profits and the evasion losses on products (Gray et. al, 1999). They ignore that dumping is permissible morally since the products that are dumped are dangerous and banned in their countries. Manufacturers of Tris-impregnated pajamas should have burned, buried or used them as wiping cloths in industries instead of dumping them, since they were toxic.
Dumping violates the health and safety standards of people in other countries. It puts the health of people who live in areas where dumping is more at risk. Therefore, it should be discouraged. However, the United States does not prohibit dumping of pharmaceuticals. The notification system is the right method to regulate the dumping of banned products. Foreign governments are notified of the products that the U.S. government has banned and those that it allows being import in the country. Dumping should be prohibited. The government should set more laws that prohibit the act. It will reduce deaths and establish health standards of people. Countries should establish regulatory agencies and provide enough testing equipment to their customs departments, which will enable the government to detect hazardous products that are exported.
Merck and River Blindness
Merck Mectizan Donation Program is justifiable and moral since its aim is to treat people and not gain profits. Mectizan kills the parasites inside the body and flies that host them. It is a potential cure of River Blindness. The parasites cause itching, disfigures skin diseases, and blindness (Denis, 1989). Mectizan was found safe and effective for treatment. Friedman would accept Merck Mectizan Donation Program since it was declared safe for the human use. Merck executives decided to give Mectizan free, which increases its demand in the U.S. The program includes partnerships with non-governmental organizations and private organizations that help in creating awareness on Mectizan. Merck values are stated openly in publications that are available to investors; however, it would make no changes to someone who accepts Friedman’s position. Approximately 30 million patients are treated with Mectizan. Reports show that River Blindness will be eradicated soon.
Merck Mectizan Program should be an example to other pharmaceutical companies to facilitate the eradication of other diseases. Because it is a program that is dedicated to preserving people’s lives. In addition, the program is not aimed at raising profits from any work that satisfies the customers’ needs. Its effort to excel depends on the integrity and knowledge of the organizers, which help them in realizing the customers’ and society's needs. The program's decisions are grounded in certain values that help it in succeeding. One of the key responsibilities of firms is the corporate social responsibility. Despite that different firms aim at achieving more profits, they should be responsible for the welfare of the community members as well. It creates a positive image about the firms, which make them gain good mouthing from the existing customers, thus attracting more customers.
Sniffing Glue Could Snuff Profits
The H.B Fuller Company has a moral obligation in conducting a legal business, which recognizes the ethical, societal needs and supports the employees’ needs. It manufactures glues, coatings, and paints. However, some consumers misuse them. Research shows that they violate human rights when by abusing some glue. Most of the abusers are street children. The utilitarian of these products recommends the company to add noxious oil, which will make the glue being sniffed less harmful to their health (Brandon, 2013). The H.B Fuller should produce less toxic products or stop selling resistor adhesives in the market since they are harmful to the abusers. The critics’ claim that, the steps that are taken by the company are polishing is insensible and illogical. The company is not morally right when it claims that, the avoidance of selling the products will reduce the levels at which they are abused by different people. Glue is important and advantageous when applied in other areas today.
The H.B Company is not morally responsible for the damage that is caused by the misuse of its products. It produces products for certain purposes and hence, it remains to be the customers’ choice to misuse them. If the abusers are children or adults, it makes no difference, but the fact is that the products should be consumed for the right purpose. There is no problem if other companies are established to manufacture similar products. H.B Fuller has not lived up to its good public image. It sells as a saint company thus singles out for critics. The company has failed in handling the issue. In attracting customers, especially the young people, tobacco companies have outdone it. I would not consider H.B Fuller as a morally upright company because it falls for every critic that comes along and tries to change its original product. Companies that pride themselves are not of higher standards than others. They are those that produce their original products with right quality and quantity at fair prices hence, creating a good image in the market.
References
Gray, RCF, Hogerzeil, H.V, Pruss AM, Rushbrook, P. (1999). World Health Organization. Guidelines for safe disposal of unwanted pharmaceuticals in and after emergencies; Réseau Médicaments & Développement
http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jwhozip51e/5.5.html
Williams, B. (1985). Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy (Cambridge: Harvard,)
Brandon, S. (2013). Sniffing Glue Could Snuff Profits. Harvey Benjamin Fuller Cooperation
Denis, G. A. (1989). River Blindness: Conquering an ancient scourge.The New York Times
