Ethical Decision Making for Engineers #4

Engineering is an important and learned profession. As a member of the engineering profession, you are expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Engineered solutions to modern problems require public acceptance and often public funding, both of which require continued public confidence in the engineering profession. Public confidence in any profession, whether it is engineering, medicine, law, etc., may easily be shaken by indications of unethical behavior in that profession. The engineering profession today enjoys a very high level of public confidence and, consequently, is effective in meeting the technological needs of society. In order to continue this effectiveness, the services that you as an engineer provide require honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity, and must be dedicated to the protection of the public safety, health, and welfare. Engineers must adhere to a standard of professional behavior upholding the highest principles of ethical conduct. We call the standard of behavior “engineering ethics,” and embody it in the codes of ethics published by the state boards and by professional societies, such as NSPE.

In this fourth course, we will continue the discussion of the Code of Ethics by looking at a few case studies and how they apply specifically to the Code. We will look into cases involving conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest. We will also look at a case involving responsibilities of the engineer in situations that may endanger public safety. Finally, we will look at the responsibilities of an engineer when reviewing another engineer’s work.