Ethics and Sustainability

The global COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new challenges in the healthcare
setup. The disease has been spreading at an alarming rate and has caused untold suffering to
individuals as well as businesses. The healthcare sector in many countries has been
overwhelmed. Pharmaceutical companies have become an important source of hope towards
combatting the effects of the virus. Through extensive research, there is hope that vaccines
could be developed and, in so doing, take an important step towards managing the pandemic.
However, the research raises serious ethical concerns. Business ethics dictate that businesses
have a responsibility to positively contribute towards the wellbeing of society.
Ethics of Pursuing Research into the Covid-19 Treatment at the Expense of Research on
Other Therapies
Ethics is a subject that is concerned with making bold decisions that differentiate what
is bad and what is good. In some instances, it is easy to discern between what is good and
what is bad. However, in other instances, the decision is often complicated. One must
therefore make a choice and have sufficient grounds that justify the choice made. Ethics play
a central role in the day-to-day running of businesses (Singh & Mishra, 2018). Business
decisions are made in line with the goals of profit maximization, legal compliance, and
fulfilling ethical considerations. In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic,
pharmaceutical companies have been put in the spotlight. Pharmaceutical companies will
play a central role in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Various ethical theories have been advanced with a view of helping business
executives make ethical decisions. One of the main ethical theories is utilitarianism.
According to utilitarianism, the most ethical choice is the one that results in the greatest good
for the greatest number (Singh & Mishra, 2018). Utilitarianism is a consequential ethical

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framework where decisions are based on whether or not they are right. The principle of
utility is central to the utilitarianism theory (Prentice, 2007). The developers of the theory
held the view that the ultimate good is one of the primary desires of a society. The principle
of physical hedonism that states that human beings desire to maximize pleasure while
avoiding pain is central to the foundation of utilitarianism.
Westgate Pharmaceuticals is confronted with an ethical and moral dilemma on which
research the company should focus. In making the ethical decision, the company should
analyze the outcome of each decision and ensure that they select the option that maximizes
the utility for the majority. The company has been engaged in stem cell research. Stem cell
research has been proven to be groundbreaking in the past, with a number of illnesses being
cured. Among the diseases that have been combatted through stem cell research is a heart
disease which is a leading cause of death globally. Currently, Westgate Pharmaceuticals is
undertaking cancer research that would help cure cancer. It is estimated that cancer kills more
than 9.5 million people every year. In the United States, cancer kills approximately 600,000
every year (Delcorde & Delcorde, 2020). Evidently, if the research is successful, many lives
will be saved, and this could also help reduce suffering brought about by cancer.
The government has brought a new proposal to Westgate Pharmaceuticals. The new
proposal seeks to have the pharmaceutical giant invest in COVID-19 research. The research
would be geared towards developing a vaccine and a cure that would help save lives. While
Westgate Pharmaceuticals has the resources to take on the research, taking on such a venture
would result in the slowing down of stem cell research. More than 42 million patients have
been infected with COVID-19, and more than 1.1 million people have died as a result of the
disease (Delcorde & Delcorde, 2020). The contract is attractive since the government would
cover the costs of research, and the profitability of the contract is not based on finding a cure.

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Utilitarianism dictates that Westgate Pharmaceuticals should select the decision that
results in the greatest good for the greatest number (Singh & Mishra, 2018). Westgate
Pharmaceuticals has two options which are to concentrate on the current projects or begin
COVID-19 research and slow down the current projects. Westgate Pharmaceuticals is on the
verge of coming up with a treatment for cancer. The research would make the company a
leader in cancer treatment. A breakthrough would help in reducing the number of cancer
deaths which currently stand at 9.5 million globally and 600,000 in the United States. In
addition, failing to take on the government contract would also ensure that patients with
multiple sclerosis, leukemia, and Hodgkin’s disease get the treatments in time (Delcorde &
Delcorde, 2020). On the other hand, taking on COVID-19 research has a huge financial
incentive that would be attractive to the investors. A breakthrough would also mean that the
pandemic is brought to an end and the number of deaths reduced. The virus has killed over
1.1 million people globally.
Based on the implications of each decision, the ethical choice for Westgate
Pharmaceuticals is to decline the offer made by the government and concentrate on the
current projects. The greatest good for the greatest number can be evaluated based on the
number of patients affected by various diseases. Cancer kills approximately 9.5 million
people annually. The number is significantly higher than the number of people who have died
as a result of COVID-19. Taking on COVID-19 research will derail efforts to bring an end to
the suffering caused by cancer as well as other diseases such as multiple sclerosis and
Hodgkin’s disease. The aim is to reduce suffering, and therefore such a decision is in line
with utilitarian principles. In addition, research on COVID-19 has not started. The
pharmaceutical company is unsure of when a breakthrough can be realized. The outcome of
such research is unclear, and this makes a case for engaging in research that has already
shown promise.

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Investors and Ethical Decisions
Investors play an important role in any business. One of the primary goals of investors
is to maximize profits. The superior financial performance of any business venture is
attractive to investors (Spiller, 2000). To this end, investors would want Louis to make an
ethical decision that positive impact on the goal to make profits. The government offers huge
incentives if Westgate Pharmaceuticals embarks on a journey to undertake research on
COVID-19. Louis will have to weigh in on the financial implications of the decision that he
makes. The aim of Westgate Pharmaceuticals as a business is to reduce risks while
maximizing returns. Different views have been expressed on the relationship between
business ethics and profitability. On one side, there is a belief that business ethics contribute
to the financial wellbeing of a business. On the other hand, there is a belief that business
ethics distract business executives from making ethical decisions (Spiller, 2000). Louis will
have to decide which view appeals to him in making the ethical decision.

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References

Delcorde, D. H., & Delcorde, C. (2020). Management: The COVID Effect. Retrieved from
https://platform.virdocs.com/r/s/0/doc/1772720/sp/222820021/mi/665211362?cfi=%2F4%2F
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Prentice, R. A. (2007). Ethical decision making: More needed than good intentions. Financial
Analysts Journal, 63(6), 17-30.
Singh, A. K., & Mishra, N. K. (2018). Ethical theory & business: A study based on
Utilitarianism and Kantianism. International Journal of Humanities and Social
Development Research, 2(1), 97-112.
Spiller, R. (2000). Ethical business and investment: A model for business and
society. Journal of Business Ethics, 27(1), 149-160.