Ethics Research

Recently in class, we have discussed the significance, weight, and consequences of unethical business writing. Although we all grew up learning right from wrong and that it wasn't nice to lie, oftentimes people slip into such temptations as adults trying to survive in the business world. However, just because people feel like they need to lie to get ahead or be successful or avoid serious issues, the truth is always the best choice.
We have been doing research to find examples of ethical lapses in communication in the real world. My group chose to focus on the true story about which the movie "Erin Brockovich" is based. This story is about a California company that decided to illegally dump chemicals into ponds in Hinkley, California. It didn't seem to be a big deal at first, but after a few decades, the chemicals began to have negative effects on people. Many people and animals who lived in the vicinity of this company died, so people began to wonder if there was a connection to the company. After investigation, it was discovered that the chemicals being dumped into the pond were known to be cancer-causing. In efforts to cover up this incident, the company published and distributed flyers about the chemical, claiming that it was not harmless, but on the contrary, actually beneficial in small doses. These flyers, however, were misleading and inaccurate, both skewing and omitting important information. This situation turned into a huge lawsuit, due in part to the unethical, incorrect flyers and information provided, and it cost many lives as a result.