Engineering during COVID-19 pandemic

Everyone encounters situations that require decision-making, and in fields such as

engineering, these decisions have a huge influence on the status of society. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, the complexity of the ethical aspects in these situations has increased,
so it was crucial to think critically about the moral issues using ethical theories in an attempt
to adhere to the ethical principles to reach the best decision. We are going to discuss and
provide a personal reflection on some of the ethical issues that have encountered the
engineers during the pandemic.
The first dilemma faced by the design engineers was to decide which type of
specifically designed machines to be produced first and the number to be built up. In this
dilemma, the ethical choices were either saving children's lives or saving adults’ lives. In my
opinion, the most ethical decision is to save the category with the highest number of cases.
Based on the utilitarian point of view, this will save the highest number of lives and
maximize the profit and market share of the company. To reach this decision, I have
discarded the non-consequential moral theories because they will not help in resolving the
dilemma as, in their context, saving someone’s life is always the right thing regardless of
their ages. Based on Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, this sequence of reasoning
reflects stage two of level one in which the right is relative, so each one can pursue his own
interests.
The second dilemma that the engineers were involved in its decision-making process
was the price for marketing ventilators. In this case, the choices were either maximizing the
firm’s profit by increasing the prices to reduce the expenses of manufacturing the other types
of ventilators or not taking advantage of the children’s parents. In my opinion, the most
ethical decision is to not take advantage of the children’s parents. This decision is based on a
non-consequential point of view. They should take this decision even if the rules allow them
otherwise. To reach this decision, I have discarded the consequential moral theories because
taking advantage of someone trying to save his/her children is completely rejected regardless
of any consequences, although not taking advantage of the children’s parents is, also, a
higher moral obligation than increasing profits, so it would be chosen from a consequential
point of view, specifically utilitarianism. Considering Kohlberg’s theory of moral
development, this sequence of reasoning reflects stage two of level three in which right is
defined by the moral principles that underline the conventions of society because, sometimes,
as in our case, rights transcend the law.
The third dilemma was when the engineers were asked by doctors to stop the
ventilators for hopeless cases in hospitals. They were choosing between following the orders
and not killing these patients. In my opinion, the most ethical decision is to follow the orders
because the doctors have more knowledge and credibility in this area, so it is more righteous
to focus on his area of expertise. This decision is based on a consequential point of view,
specifically utilitarianism. To reach this decision, I have discarded the non-consequential
moral theories because following the order and not killing the patients are both right
regardless of their consequences, although someone might argue that not killing the patients
is a higher moral obligation than following the orders. I think this point is valid only within
someone’s area of expertise; other than that, following the orders would be more righteous.
Considering Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, this sequence of reasoning reflects
stage two of level two in which right behavior is doing one’s duty, showing respect for
authority, and maintaining the given social order.
Finally, I think that these dilemmas can be avoided from the beginning by making
collaborations between these companies and harnessing all the available human and capital
resources, so all types of ventilators can be produced from the beginning by sufficient
amounts and higher quality while maintaining a reasonable market share for all these
companies. Then, the profit can be divided between these companies. Also, governmental
support can be provided to the companies as this virus is a national threat that requires
cooperation between the public and private sectors.