Abstract This paper examines how human cloning has always been the source of serious debate, raising ethical issues that must not be overlooked. It argues how research and experiments push us toward the reality of cloning and how, in order to face this reality, we should hesitate and consider the effects cloning will have on society. It looks at how human cloning should be considered an unethical practice because, at this point, we cannot be sure of the repercussions and how it is not an exact science. It also puts forward the stance that it degrades humanity and how efforts are being made across the globe to create the first cloned human being without considering the grave consequences.
From the Paper "Perhaps the most important point of this debate is Dolly the sheep. Last year, Dolly died a premature death. According to New Scientist Magazine, Dolly suffered from ?arthritis - a condition that occurs most often in the elderly,? which suggests that Dolly "was aging prematurely" (New Scientist). Although it is still unclear whether cloning or genetics caused the arthritis, many believe it was the cloning. The New Scientist explains the specifics of Dolly's case. In Dolly, certain cells called telomeres were shorter than they should have been when compared to telomeres of other sheep her age. Trivial as it seems, it is important because she was cloned from a sheep that was six years old. In other words, Dolly might have been older than she looked."
Abstract This paper looks at some of the controversy surrounding health care directives. The paper explains what a health directive is, looks at the purpose of health directives, explores the problems and controversy associated with them, and suggests a possible solution to these problems. Appended to the paper are notations concerning laws on health care directives, quotes about advanced directives from medical professionals, and a statement on health care directives made by a bioethicist.
From the Paper "The past few decades have seen an increase in law suits revolving around the final medical wishes of those who fall ill. Media coverage has provided the nation with front row coverage when it comes to people in comas, vegetative states, and no hope of recovery. Family members are often pitted against each other and the hospitals as the patient lays waiting for a decision to be made. One of the things that has been increasing in popularity to prevent such problems is the use of advance directives. While advance directives are gaining in popularity and power their relative infancy creates an atmosphere for problems. Advance directives can lay to rest painful family decisions, as well as doctor decisions that may or may not agree with the family. They provide a blue print of the patient's wishes that everybody can follow."
Abstract This paper examines how euthanasia is a delicate "life and death" issue that evokes passionate arguments both for and against its legalization. It looks at how proponents of euthanasia look at the issue as a compassionate act and want euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide to be legalized and how a number of seemingly valid arguments have been advanced in support of making euthanasia legal. It shows how a closer scrutiny of the medical, religious, and ethical arguments, however, reveals that, on balance, the disadvantages of making euthanasia legal far outweigh the supposed benefits of such a move.
From the Paper "From a religious perspective, most major religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism believe that God gives life and therefore only God should take it away. Most religious people and faith groups consider suicide, euthanasia and assisted suicide and euthanasia "as a rejection of God's sovereignty" and are some of the most committed groups that oppose the legalization of euthanasia. According to the Christian belief, life is a gift from God, and that ?each individual [is] its steward.? Thus, only God can start a life, and only God should be allowed to end it. This belief further stipulates that God does not send us any experience that we cannot handle and He supports people in suffering; therefore to actively seek to end to one's life amounts to lack of trust in God's promise and such an act is considered as a cardinal sin."
Abstract This paper explains that the threatened birth of an extremely preterm or anomalous infant presents complex medical, social, and ethical issues for the family and the involved physicians. The author points out that cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the delivery room is a modality that presents clinicians with significant ethical issues because the decision to not resuscitate is made rapidly and most often without the advice of a bioethics committee. The author suggests the importance of facilitating change in the care of pregnant women and marginally viable infants resulting in parents developing an understanding of the risks that their newborn faces if delivered and resuscitated.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Media
Legal
Ethical
Economics
Facilitating Change
From the Paper "The current and most frequent policy on resuscitating neonates of marginal viability is from the "Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation". It suggests the non-initiation of resuscitation for newborns less than 23 weeks gestation and/or 400 grams in birth weight. It consists of resuscitating infants of 23- 24 weeks or greater unless they have a previously diagnosed lethal anomaly. Current practice is to not resuscitate infants with congenital anomalies that are incompatible with life (Bloom, 1993). The fetus of 23 weeks is considered a possible but unlikely survivor. Since there is some evidence of survival of 23 week infants, various hospitals have adopted the policy of resuscitating these fetuses. Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants that survive represent a small percentage of those delivered."
Abstract This paper looks at the need for companies to espouse sound ethical guidelines and to assure that their employees and managers follow and practice these guidelines. The paper discusses ways that these guidelines can be made a part of corporate culture and thereby establish an ethically sound working environment. The use of procedures, ethically-oriented management philosophies, and problem-solving strategies are also covered.
From the Paper "Ethics are the "rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession" (Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary) or ethics are defined as "a set of principles of right conduct" as well as "a theory or a system of moral values" (Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary). Hence, these carefully formulated rules and policies determine "the actions or reactions of a person in response to external or internal stimuli" thereby energizing behavior of the employees and motivating them to perform accordingly (American Heritage Dictionary). Hence, all the reactions to an action as well as the rules and the policies drafted and the amendments made from time to time all form a fundamental part of the term ethics. In short, the people working for and the individuals owning a workplace form an organization where all are bound to obey the policies, rules and regulations constituting the social value system of an organization."
Abstract This paper addresses the sensitive and controversial issue of employee privacy versus the need of employers to monitor and control the Internet and computer usage of their employees. The paper addresses both the legal and moral issues surrounding this problem. It looks at techniques used by employers and also asks whether the problem can be solved at all.
From the Paper "Although computers have been commonplace in the workplace for several decades, the Internet has not. Today however, there are few companies, large or small, that do not have Internet access. This new technology has created ethical debates throughout the business world. Having Internet access allows employees to explore Web sites of personal interests and conduct personal correspondence by email while at work. Prior to this technology, an employer could generally tell if an employee was busy performing work tasks or loafing about reading a magazine. However, today it is not so easy. It is difficult for an employer to know whether a worker is gathering business data or checking out vacation spots. Rather than writing those quarterly reports, an employee may be involved in an on-line chat room. In response to this dilemma, employers have begun monitoring its employee computer usage. This has raised many questions concerning an employee right to privacy and an employer's right of security and production."
Abstract This paper examines how human cloning has always stirred healthy debate and how philosophical theories regarding the issue of cloning range from the technological to the ethical. The value of human life is also juxtaposed with the benefits to those who are suffering. It looks at how some view cloning as an inevitable process that is bound to occur as society forges ahead into the next age of medical discovery, while others see the act of human cloning as a slippery slope that will lead to cloning for spare parts, thus removing the dignity of life itself.
From the Paper "When we consider these varying views, we discover that many philosophical viewpoints revolve around the issue of values. In other words, cloning devalues life because it degrades others as a means to our ends. John Kilner, in his essay, ?Human Cloning Would Violate Christian Ethics,? staunchly believes, "human cloning will cause the deaths of human beings"(Kilner 13). In short, the act of cloning, whether or not it saves live, devalues life itself. He asserts that because cloning is not yet a perfect science, many human embryos would be lost and therefore, the "cost is unacceptably high" (14). He grounds his argument on the ?277 failed attempts? (14) that took place before Dolly was cloned successfully."
Abstract Probation and parole programs are highly criticized in modern society. Are they just excuses for lowering prison populations or do they actually work in rehabilitating offenders? This paper looks into the ethics of probation and parole programs and offers some critique of the programs.
From the Paper "Today's criminal justice system is supposedly the best that America has ever had. However, there are always ethical issues in dealing with those among us who have the urges to commit crime. Probation and parole are two ways of dealing with an offender without keeping him or her in prison. When an offender is let out on parole, then he or she is being released from prison before his or her full sentence has been carried out. Probation is a program that was made as an alternative to imprisoning an offender. This paper will examine the probation and parole programs and offer a personal opinion of their efficiency and relevancy in the criminal justice system."
Abstract This paper explains that the principal ethical issue underlying objections to the medical use of stem cells has its roots in the Christian religious belief that human life begins at conception. Scientists absolutely reject this belief and consider all biological life, including human life, to be fundamentally the same, different only in degrees rather than in kind. The author states that the argument against stem cell research is based on the specious "slippery slope" argument, according to which producing embryos for medical research would necessarily lead to human cloning. he paper concludes that there is no basis in objective ethical principles to prohibit the medical profession from pursuing all avenues likely to improve human life by eliminating as many debilitating diseases as possible.
From the Paper "Human stem cells exist in four varieties, with different relative therapeutic medical potential. Stem cells derived from early human embryos have the greatest medical potential and likely hold the key to curing victims of traumatic spinal paralysis and organ tissue regeneration instead of reliance on donor tissue transplantation. Embryonic stem cell tissues are referred to as totipotent, because they seem to posses the unique potential to grow into virtually any human tissue or even complete human organs."
Abstract This paper examines the general divide, as well as proposing support for one particular aspect of this rather general issue, which is that of the racism inherent in the American state execution system, hereafter referred to as 'death row'. This paper explains that, especially in Texas and some other Southern states such as Georgia, but arguably anywhere, minorities are relegated to an inferior social status due to racist out-group thinking in terms of cultural authority; this racism is at work. The writer points out that the over-representation of minorities on death row is worth examining as a symptom of many problems in the system, including those of cleared cases and ones still pending. The functional racism of the death penalty is illustrated in several examples and other issues of concern it raises within legal scholarship.
From the Paper "The history of the death penalty is long and too complicated to recount in terms of cultural differences throughout human history within the present forum. But the death penalty has been used by societies since ancient times, for various crimes ranging in magnitude and the severity of harm involved. Generally societies that were based on scriptural rules regarding the death penalty for various crimes had their civil codes and
laws. There has been an observed racial divide within the U.S. in terms of death penalty cases since independence, depending largely on the societal implications of a racially oppressive legal culture that was guided by principles of universal human freedom. Other systems have their own histories of racial oppression through unequal colonialist
legal systems."
Tags: crime, punishment, texas, death, row, capital
Explains how Wal-Mart is immoral to the patriotic American using key philosophical theories, such as utilitarianism, social contract theory, and Kant-ism.
Abstract In this essay, the author argues that Wal-Mart industries unflinchingly jeopardize the vital civil liberties upon which America is founded. The author makes this point based on the following premises: Premise 1) Wal-Mart condones the use of sweatshop labor for its goods, disrespecting the constitutional clause that all men are created equal; Premise 2) Wal-Mart endangers America's capitalist system by destroying small businesses and creating what is essentially a monopoly; and Premise 3) The construction of hundreds of new stores yearly creates serious environmental issues. In conclusion, the author of the paper suggests that a corporation, which violates such entities as equality, choice, and a healthy environment, simply cannot belong in a nation that holds them in the highest of regards. This, therefore, makes Wal-Mart immoral to the true and patriotic American.
From the Paper "As bewildering as it may be, there are many solid arguments against the giant retail chain we have grown so fond of: Wal-Mart. Even less known is the fact that the company unflinchingly jeopardizes such treasured American entities as equality, freedom of choice, and the environment. In the following argument I will use these examples as premises to contend how Wal-Mart is immoral to the patriotic American."
Abstract This paper defines corporate social responsibility and its effect on the corporation's stakeholders. It also suggests ideas that can be incorporated into a socially responsible corporate strategy. The paper concludes with discussing areas of concern for businesses.
From the Paper "The meltdown and collapse of Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Global Crossing and Arthur Andersen, and the huge payouts to top officers have flooded the headlines over the past two years. Every time we thought we had heard it all, we were shocked by yet another scandal involving lots of money and lots of denials of wrongdoing. The same processes are in place when financial records are cooked, tobacco executives testify that nicotine is not addictive, the airlines insist that security is being improved, or Ford executives tell you that Explorers are safe. The predominant attitude in corner offices seems to be to grab all the money you can, while you can, and don't worry about little things like ethics, morals or the law."
Abstract This paper examines the history of equal employment opportunity and how it impacts human resource management today. Human resources managers must be aware of the how the EEO laws affect employees, potential employees, and retiring employees. This is because these eight Equal Employment Opportunity laws impact several areas of human resources management, including compensation, employee selection, opportunities for training and promotion, performance appraisal, and retirement.
From the Paper "Another area of human resource management concerned with EEO laws is the area of promotion and job training opportunities. The Age Discrimination Act of 1967 is one law that targets 20% of all discrimination charges, which happen to fall into the category of age related discrimination. Age related discrimination tends to occur often when decisions are being made about additional job training, funding for continuing education, and downsizing through "early retirement" programs (Bohlander, 56). Other elderly people are looked over for hire or promotion because they are considered too old and un-hip to promote. Casual remarks that express ageist attitudes can easily be used to build cases of discrimination based on age (Bohlander, 56)."
Abstract This paper looks at the basic principles of ethics and trust which are essential in the B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) e-commerce industry. The paper explains how a professional approach is essential for success in the dealing with them at all the times. The ethical issues in B2B and B2C have been defined as a group of principles of true conduct, the rules or standards administering the conduct of a person or the conduct of the members of a procession. While dealing with business marketing and advertising the ethical issues involved are honesty, integrity and trustworthy. The paper concludes that honesty is the best policy - this is also equally applicable in case of the e-business both B2B and B2C categories.
From the Paper "The policy of honesty in case of B2C categories makes one successful in avoiding its returning back to bite people persistently. Integrity is considered to be the next ethics. It is not proper to be persuaded by the fact of short sightedness. When a prospective flaw is detected it is proper to eradicate the same and the guilty of shortsightedness pays them at the cost of their integrity and consumers' wallet. The ethics also includes trustworthy. It is pertinent to note that the client is exerting enough trust on the business man hence it is quite ethical to bind with the trust dearly and not to do anything that would entail injury to them. The underlying principle is therefore to "tell it like it is and do it with style" so as to generate customers' confidence. (The Importance of Ethics on the Internet)"
Abstract Using the example of the Enron scandal, this paper briefly examines how the corporate culture plays a role in the organizational approach to customer relations and social responsibility.
From the Paper "During the recruitment and retention selection phase, a process is typically employed within organizations not only to select individuals who have the technical skills and knowledge to perform their roles within the organization but also to select people who will fit in with, and not undermine, the organization's culture."
