Question

2. Consider one of the many dilemmas faced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A National Academy of Sciences report estimated that 60,000 women in the United States put their fetuses “at risk” of brain damage from mercury in the fish they ate. FDA scientists have warned that a woman should eat only one can of tuna per week, and that “The action levels we have in place are not protective enough for this—the fetuses.” Nonetheless, after meetings with the U.S. Tuna Foundation and other seafood industry representatives, the FDA decided only to suggest that pregnant women eat fish in moderation.

A. Which ethical theories would support this decision? Explain.

B. Should the environment be protected at any costs? Explain using your understanding of ethics and efficiency.

Answer 1

2.

A.

The decision to suggest that pregnant women should consume fish in moderation, is based on utilitarianism based ethical theory. It is due to the reason that, this decision is going to help majority of the fish producers, their families and associated employees working for them. It is the objective of the utilitarianism based ethical theory that any action that benefits majority of the society is considered as moral and ethical action.

So, moderate consumption of fish by pregnant women, means different varieties of fish will still be consumed and people will buy the different varieties of the fish. It is absolutely different to the earlier decision to advise only the consumption of small amount of tuna fish. So, the decision is changed by FDA and FDA has followed utilitarianism based ethical theory to base their decision.

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B

Environment should be protected to the level where marginal social benefit is higher than the marginal social cost. Once the marginal aspect of cost is higher than the benefit, then environment protection will hurt more and then it should not be protected. It is the efficiency aspect of environmental protection drive.

On the basis of ethical ground, there are many people who thrive on resources provided by environment such as fisheries, woods based products from Forrest areas and other used of environment. It is ethical on the basis utilitarianism based ethical theory that promotes those decisions that can help majority of the society. So, as long as use of environment helps many families and gains including social gains are more than the social cost, environment can be used by the humans. So, it is a trade off between social benefits and social costs that decide the level of use and protection given to the environment on the basis of ethics as well as efficiency.