Elspeth Case Analysis: Moral Obligation

MORAL OBLIGATIONS Legal obligations are clear cut line between what is right and what is wrong in the world, however there are many grey areas. Since no one judicial system can define all the grey areas in the world were are left to decide what is right and what is wrong using our moral compass. Some moral compasses are sounder than others but moral obligations are our unwritten duties to do or not to do something based on inner beliefs. The moral obligations to Peggy are to protect her privacy. Peggy agreed to the focus group to help provide valuable information, which she did, but she did not agree to the release of her personal information. It is ethically and morally responsible to ask Peggy before releasing any sensitive information.
Elspeth morally wants her client to be content with the focus group and hire her again but she doesn’t want to do this by compromising her focus groups privacy and her own integrity. Even though this is a grey area morally for the client to ask for this information, America is the land of “the customer is always right.” So I do not believe telling them that their request is inappropriate is morally valid because it’s simply “bad business” to speak on the ethics of a client.
DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS This case can cause all three people and the two companies involved detrimental effects if Elspeth provides the client with Peggy’s last name including;
1. If the company uses Peggy’s information for anything other than what was stated that it was going to be used for it, it will make the research company look incompetent and make both companies liable for legal ramification.
2. If Peggy finds out the sensitive information was released without her knowledge or consent, both of the companies can be served with lawsuits for breach of privacy and breach of
Give everyone in the focus group an opportunity to sign a contract allowing the release of last names to the client for verification purposes. Everyone should be given the opportunity, to not single anyone out. This would protect Peggy’s privacy along with protecting each company from a breach of privacy lawsuit.
2. Elspeth could simply vocalize to her supervisor, Franklin, that releasing last names was not part of the contract and it is breaking participate confidentiality, therefore it cannot be done. This may work and the client will be unhappy, or it may not work and her supervisor may go over her head, provide it anyway then produce ramifications for Elspeth for not doing what her boss asked. This could put Elspeth and Peggy in compromising positions.
3. Elspeth and Franklin could also consider refusal and dropping them as a client. They should think about this option because a law firm is asking them to do something in the ethical and legal grey area. A law firm should be well versed in participate privacy and should not put the marketing research firm in such a position. This will be a loss financially, but a sound business ethics