PROFESSIONAL ETHICS Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS - Research Paper Example A person would always be influenced, directly or indirectly, by a system of thought that may is usually universally acceptable. How then did whistle-blowing come about, and how does it affect ethical and moral systems per se? Whistle-blowing is an act wherein a person, normally the employee, is exposed to some grave wrong, illegal work, or unacceptable practice within a company, workplace, or among professionals. Due to the wrong committed, the employee publicly announces the wrong done, thinking of it as the only remaining effective way of helping put a stop to such practice, after all the other means prove to be a failure. In such situation, the person committing the act of exposing the company, or the employee/s thereof, is referred to as whistle-blower/s. As emphasized by McConnell, whistle-blowers expose a past or present wrongdoing that is committed by a company, an organization, or even by a group of medical experts (575). The act of whistle-blowing may be triggered by various reasons, depending on the circumstances of each case, but it all has the same purpose, which is to point an accusatory finger against an organization or company (572) for committing a wrong so grave, that it has to be publicized to the world. As to what degree a wrong done may be considered as worthy of whistle-blowing, that is for the whistle-blowers’ own prerogative. However, despite the fact that it is somehow subjective on the part of the whistle-blower to decide as to whether something is worth exposing, it can be said that the judgment arrived at by the whistle-blower is highly swayed by an ethical system or moral belief that he or she lives by. Benefits A person is generally a moral being. Whatever wrong or evil act a person does is most probably a deviation from the universal precept of what is considered as morally and ethically acceptable for humans. For example, it is morally wrong to kill. Law, jurisprudence, cultural norms, even religion (at least for the theist s), support this general rule. This is a universal moral law that most people would live by. In relation to a whistle-blower’s position, he or she publicly reveals a wrong done by a company or organization, not just because the wrong being done is contrary to acceptable practice within the industry or company mission, or criminal in nature, but more so, because the wrong committed is clearly an inexcusable violation of morally accepted principles. Aside from that, the wicked acts or practices employed produce either mass destruction or negative effects on the affected patients or clients. In this situation, it is irrelevant then if the act or practice is presently being committed or not, what is important is that a grave moral wrong exists that will harm people, whether it concerns a small or huge percentage of the population. Whistle-blowing does not only affect the parties involved, but it has a permanent and long lasting effect on society as well. For instance, whistle-blo wing serves as a reminder to companies and organizations that they cannot always get away with such things. Companies and organizations are always highly encouraged and expected to not just act within the confines of what is considered as acceptable within company regulations and governmental laws, but to act with reverence and respect of universal moral decrees and norms. Also, whistle-blowing incite companies and org