Whistle Blowing: Preventive Strategies

Imagine working for a company that produces medical supplies. Suppose that one day, it is discovered that one of the products the firm produces could be harmful to a small segment of the population using that particular product. It is believed that knowingly producing and marketing this product is wrong and that something must be done. However, there are only three choices available: ignore the situation, report it internally within the organisation, or report it externally through channels such as the Justice Department or publicly exposing it to the news media (Barnett, 1992). This is an ethical dilemma faced by many employees every day. Each of the three choices holds both positive and negative consequences which will greatly determine the outcome of an individual's decision.