Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer: 

P.F.R. Inc. developed a new antibiotic called Trivan. Tests show that in animals, Trivan has
life-threatening side effects, including joint disease, abnormal cartilage growth, liver damage
and a degenerative bone condition. After several years, an epidemic of bacterial meningitis
swept across Nigeria. P.F.R. sent three U.S. physicians to test Trivan on children who were
patients in Nigeria’s Infectious Disease Hospital. P.F.R. did not obtain the patients’ consent,
inform them as to the risks, or tell them that they had a choice in obtaining treatment, in
that they could go to another organization that was effectively using conventional methods
of treating the epidemic. Eleven children died in the Trivan experiments, and others were
left blind, deaf, paralyzed or brain damaged. Now, P.F.R. is facing a lawsuit for negligence in
product liability.
Were the actions of P.F.R. ethical in taking their testing of the drug to Nigeria as they did
here? Using the principles of ethical reasoning from your textbook (Chapter 4, page 87-88),
what are three arguments that P.F.R.’s actions were a violation of ethical standards. What
might P.F.R. have done differently? Be sure to discuss of Corporate Social Responsibility,
including how and what stakeholders should have been considered in making their decision
about the Trivan testing in Nigeria.
Your response should be a basic essay, with a title, introductory paragraph containing a
thesis statement, support for your thesis in body paragraphs, and a conclusory paragraph
where you wrap up your essay. You may not have more than 10% originality score, and if you
use any sources other than the textbook, you need to cite them in a bibliography. You may
use quotes from the textbook. You do not need to create a bibliography for the textbook,
but you should include in your essay a reference to the book when you use the You are
encouraged to go to the Writing Center for feedback in making your essay better.