Describe The Nature of Ethics and Morality; The Nature of Moral Reasoning
Section A – 7 marks
Read the following news items and answer the questions:
“GlaxoSmithKline to pay $3bn in US drug fraud scandal”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/business/glaxosmithkline-agrees-to-pay-3-
billion-in-fraud-settlement.html?_r=0
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18673220
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Drugs/off-label-drug-marketing-free-speech-courtrules/story?id=17883930
Information about off-label prescribing and marketing:
http://www.nps.org.au/media-centre/media-releases/repository/Off-label-prescribingwhat-does-it-mean
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20732
1. What are the main ethical issues raised by GlaxoSmithKline’s decision to promote
and market drugs for unapproved uses? Do you think that such practices are morally
permissible or unethical? Provide detailed reasons to support your conclusions.
2. Do you think it was morally acceptable for GlaxoSmithKline not to release relevant
research data and to make unsupported safety claims for one of its diabetes drugs?
Is there a moral difference between merely failing to provide relevant information and
actively making false claims about the safety of a drug? Give reasons for your answer.
3. GSK’s activities were found to be illegal. Would it make a difference to your
assessment of the case if such activities were not against the law? Why/Why not?
In answering these questions make sure to:
a) determine the facts of the case
b) identify affected parties
c) identify relevant moral principles, values and reasons
d) weigh up competing principles, values and reasons
e) reach principled and consistent moral conclusions about the case
Section B – 7 marks
Watch or read the transcript of the following program and answer the questions:
Globesity: Fat’s New Frontier.
http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2012/s3547707.htm
Additional information about Mexico and obesity:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/01/mexico-obesity-taxes-junk-foodsugary-drinks-exercise
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/nov/03/obese-soda-sugar-tax-mexico
4. What kinds of moral obligations to consumers and society do food and beverage
companies have when marketing and selling food and drink products that lead to
negative health outcomes? Answer this question using specific examples from the
documentary to support your conclusions.
In answering the question make sure to:
a) determine the facts of the case
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b) identify affected parties
c) identify relevant moral principles, values and reasons
d) weigh up competing principles, values and reasons
e) reach a principled and consistent moral decision about the case
Section C – 6 marks
Compare your responses to the two cases. Do you apply the same principles and
standards of conduct to pharmaceutical companies as you do to food and beverage
companies? Explain why or why not making sure you identify the morally relevant
differences or similarities between the two cases to support your conclusions.
Answer preview:
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