write a research paper on Elizabeth holmes – Theranos Scandal
The paper should discuss the ethical dilemma, the effect and consequences of the ethical act and the outcome of the case. You must use at least two of the ethical theories discussed in class to explain the reason and circumstances the individuals involved were able to commit the unethical acts that took place.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos Scandal: An Ethical Dilemma Unveiled
Introduction
The Theranos scandal, involving the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, shook the world of healthcare technology. Holmes, once hailed as a visionary and a Silicon Valley success story, faced serious allegations of deceiving investors, regulators, and patients about the capabilities of her blood-testing company, Theranos. This research paper will explore the ethical dilemma surrounding the Theranos scandal, analyze the consequences of the unethical acts committed, and discuss the outcome of the case. Furthermore, we will apply two ethical theories discussed in class to shed light on the reasons and circumstances that allowed individuals involved to engage in these unethical acts.
The Ethical Dilemma
At the heart of the Theranos scandal lay a fundamental ethical dilemma – the deceitful misrepresentation of a medical product that potentially endangered patients’ lives. Holmes claimed that Theranos had developed a revolutionary blood-testing technology capable of conducting numerous tests using just a few drops of blood. However, internal whistleblowers and investigations revealed that the technology was flawed and inaccurate. The ethical dilemma emerged when Holmes and her team decided to mislead investors, regulators, and patients about the capabilities and reliability of their product for financial gain and personal ambition.
Consequences of the Unethical Acts
The consequences of the unethical acts committed by Holmes and her team were far-reaching. Firstly, patients who relied on Theranos’ blood tests received inaccurate results, which could have led to misdiagnoses and improper medical treatments. This put their health and well-being at risk. Secondly, investors who poured millions of dollars into Theranos based on false claims suffered significant financial losses. Additionally, the credibility of the healthcare industry was undermined, eroding public trust in innovative technologies and start-ups.
Outcome of the Case
Elizabeth Holmes and former Theranos president Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani faced legal repercussions as a result of their actions. In 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Holmes with fraud, leading to a settlement requiring her to pay a fine, return shares, and relinquish her control over Theranos. In 2021, Holmes stood trial on criminal charges of conspiracy and fraud. The trial is ongoing at the time of this research paper.
Applying Ethical Theories
To understand the reasons and circumstances that allowed individuals involved in the Theranos scandal to commit unethical acts, we can analyze their behavior through two ethical theories: utilitarianism and ethical egoism.
Utilitarianism suggests that actions should be evaluated based on their overall consequences and whether they maximize happiness or well-being for the greatest number of people. In the case of Holmes and Theranos, it appears that they prioritized their own ambitions, financial gains, and reputation over the well-being of patients and the truth. They may have believed that if they could succeed in revolutionizing blood testing, it would bring significant benefits to society. However, their actions resulted in harm to patients, loss of investor funds, and damage to public trust.
Ethical egoism posits that individuals should act in their own best interest, regardless of how it affects others. This theory could explain why Holmes and her team engaged in fraudulent practices. Their self-interests drove them to deceive investors by inflating the capabilities of their product and misrepresenting their company’s value. They may have believed that personal success outweighed any negative consequences that others might suffer as a result.
Conclusion
The Theranos scandal involving Elizabeth Holmes raises important ethical questions regarding deception, accountability, and the potential consequences of unethical acts. By misrepresenting the capabilities of Theranos’ blood-testing technology, Holmes endangered patients’ lives and deceived investors. The consequences included compromised patient health, financial losses for investors, and a loss of trust in healthcare innovation. By applying ethical theories such as utilitarianism and ethical egoism, we can gain insights into why individuals involved in the scandal may have acted unethically. Ultimately, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical decision-making in business and healthcare, emphasizing the need for transparency, integrity, and accountability to protect public welfare.
