Selling medical ultrasound technology in asia li nda trevi no and al

Selling Medical Ultrasound Technology in

Asia

Li nda Trevi no and Al essandro Gubbi ni

A surprising ethical dilemma arose for a young engineer during his first business trip to Asia to work with

customers of his company’s ultrasound imaging technology. On the long airplane ride, Pat was dutifully

reading a travel book to learn more about Korean and Chinese cultures when he was shocked to learn

how ultrasound technologies were being used in these countries. A technology that he had always

considered to be a way to help people by diagnosing disease was being commonly used to intentionally

identify and interrupt pregnancies when the fetus was female. As an engineer, Pat had been trained to

be passionate about innovation and problem solving. He was used to thinking about these technologies

as innovative high-tech solutions to serious health problems. He was also committed to developing

higher-quality, more efficient, affordable devices so that they could be used more widely. It had never

occurred to him that in some Asian cultures, where overpopulation combined with a strong patriarchal

culture led to a preference for sons over daughters, this technology that he considered to be innovative,

helpful, and supportive of people’s well-being might be used to eliminate female lives…………………………

Case Questions

Consider Pat’s concerns as described in this case and prepare a memorandum that addresses the

concerns described below.  Your memo should be completed in narrative form (you may use headings if

you choose to do so for organizational purposes, but do not list your responses in bullet form).  Maximum

page length: 10 pages (double spaced).

Identify all of the potential ethical issues you see (if any).  Describe and analyze the implications of each

issue, including who or what may be affected by the company’s response.  In identifying issues and

addressing their implications, your discussion should be as comprehensive as possible—you should

consider any economic, social, or ecological implications, as well as the potential impact at least two

cultural differences you can identify.   

Additionally, your analysis should thoroughly identify and discuss at least two potential courses of

action that the company could take with respect to eachissue you have discussed.  Clearly demonstrate

your reasoning process—identify and explain any ethical principles or arguments you are relying on; do

not simply state unsupported conclusions.  

If you choose to apply any approaches to ethical reasoning that you learned about in this course, clearly

state what they are and how you are applying them to this case.  Of the possible solutions you

identified, which would you recommend that the company adopt as a resolution?  Again, fully explain

and justify your recommendations.  Finally, explain how you would implement each solution you have

recommended.

This is a take-home assignment. You are to answer the questions in the way(s) that you believe are the most thorough, most descriptive, and most analytical.

You are to compose a short paper that addresses all questions asked at the end of the case. As we are also evaluating your writing, your answers must be in an essay format, rather than using outlines or bullet points. You are to submit your answers in narrative form. Keep in mind that communication has multiple dimensions to it. Communicating substantive information is only one dimension. How well you communicate it and the grasp of the English language that you display in your communications will all have a bearing on how the individual grading your submission will evaluate it.

This assignment will make up a percent of your grade to be determined by your faculty member.

Submission instructions

• Please ensure that the Certification set out below appears on your submission.
• Attach your Word document to this assignment and submit before the due date.

Certification

By submitting my responses to this Assignment, I hereby certify and affirm that I have not received any aid of any type from any of my classmates or students taking this course in other sections.

Selling Medical Ultrasound Technology in Asia.pdf