A Matter of Principle

A matter of principle

Nancy Smith was hired as the associate director of Medical Research at a major pharmaceutical company.

Terms not by fixed contract, “at-will” employee.

Two years later, promoted to Director of Medical Research Therapeutics (nonreproductive drugs).

One project development of loperamide (liquid treatment for acute and chronic diarrhea to be used by infants, children, and older persons who were unable to take solid medication).

Formula contained saccharin in an amount that was 44 times higher the Food and Drug Administration permitted in 12 ounces of a sweetened soft drink, but there are no proclaimed standards for the use of saccharin in drugs.

The research project team responsible for the loperamide collectively agreed that because of the high saccharin content, it should not be distributed in the U.S. (apparently already in Europe).

Alternative formula would take at least three months to make

The pharmaceuticals management pressured the team to use the existing formula and the research project team agreed.

Nancy maintained her disagreement to the high saccharin formula and indicated that the Hippocratic oath prevented her from giving the formula to old people and children.

Nancy was the only medical person on the team, and her decision was that saccharin was a possible carcinogen, therefore unable to participate in clinical testing.

Because she was unwilling to participate in the testing, the management removed her from the project and have her a demotion.

Demotion was posted and was told that management considered her unpromotable.

She was charged for being irresponsible, lacking in good judgment, unproductive, and uncooperative with marketing.

She had never been criticized by supervisors before, so she resigned because she believed she was being punished for refusing to pursue a task she thought was unethical.

1. Employment-at-will-principle: in the absence of a specific contract or law, an...