Merck Ethics Essay

In developing a drug to combat river blindness, pharmaceutic altogetheriance Merck discovered an opportunity to treat millions of affected masss around the dry land that probably would never see commercial use. The drug in development, ivermectin, was unaffordable to the first-string victims of river blindness, Third World peoples. Thus, Dr. Vagelos, the head of research at the time, treaded upon a respectable quagmire he could either choose to scrap the drug and its that research or he could spend millions more on a drug destined for financial failure.In accordance with Mercks company direction at the time, Dr. Vagelos understood that the purpose of the company was to serve people and that profits result from the fulfillment of this primary purpose. As such, Dr. Vagelos not single pushed for further research on the drug, but decided when he became chief operating officer to offer the drug, now Mectizan, for free to all affected individuals.Dr. Vagelos decision fulfills all f our of Flemings principles of ethics. In general, his decision reflects Flemings definition of ethics, which is a standpoint from which all individuals have a special dignity or worth. The choice to make the drug available for free is utilitarian, as the telephone number of affected individuals worldwide greatly outweigh the number of negatively impact stockholders.In doing so, Dr. Vagelos choice also illustrates his belief that people are authorise to the right of humane treatment by others. Similarly, his choice reveals every persons obligation to protect and ensure these rights. Dr. Vagelos decision is also salutary and fair, in that all members of a group (in this case, the human race) are to be treated with equal benefits.