The Insider

February 05, 2014

Accounting 1

Ethics project: movie title; Insider

The movie the Insider was an excellent movie that depicted a multitude of ethical problems. The focus of the movie surrounds the two main characters, Jeffrey Wigand and Lowell Bergman. There is unethical behavior existing amongst these individuals and everyone in their surroundings. The film's depiction of ethics is a perfect example of what situations one can face in the modern business world. Some of the ethical problems in this film include falsification, honesty, abusive and intimidating behavior, lying, conflict of interest, libel, and an overall lack of social responsibility.

The overlying issue over the entire movie, and the reason for the 60 Minutes broadcast is the completely unethical behavior of the tobacco industry. The industry is guilty of committing several unethical behavior multiple times. First, since the day the FDA announced that cigarettes are damaging to the lung, throat, and body in general, the tobacco industry is providing a damaging product knowingly to its consumers which is a complete lack of social responsibility towards its stakeholders.

Also, the complete reason for the 60 Minutes broadcast was to show America that the tobacco industry has also been lying about the contents in cigarettes especially nicotine. According to the tobacco industry, nicotine is not addictive and was stated so in front of Congress, but Jeffrey Wigand, who worked with the substance as a chemist, says that it is the exact opposite. Wigand says that “the tobacco industry is a nicotine delivery business...” and tobacco companies add ammonia to the cigarettes so the nicotine can be absorbed into the brain faster, so customers can get “their fix”. Although the tobacco industry is not the only party guilty of unethical behavior, but every other unethical party is guilty because of the heavy burdens caused by the tobacco industry's decisions. In my opinion Jeffrey Wigand was the villain. To...