Knowledge of Damaging Information
The State Pollution Control Authority advises the Bright
Corporation that it has 60 days to apply for a permit to
discharge manufacturing wastes into a body of water.
In order to convince the Authority that it will meet the
environmental standards, the Bright Corporation employs
Persaud, an engineer, to perform consulting engineering
services and submit a detailed report. After completing the
studies, Persaud concludes that the discharge from the plant
will violate environmental standards and that the corrective
action will be very costly to Bright. Persaud verbally notifies
the company, which terminates its contract with Persaud with
full payment for the services performed. It instructs Persaud
not to render a written report to the corporation.
A short time later, Persaud learns that the Authority has
called a public hearing, where the Bright Corporation will
present data to support its claim that the present plant
discharge meets minimum standards.
What, if anything, should Persaud do now? Is Persaud obliged
to report the violation of environmental standards to the
Authority? Does Persaud have any residual obligation to the
Bright Corporation that would stand in the way of doing so?
--adapted from NSPE Case No. 76-4
Current NSPE Code of Ethics
An earlier version may have been used in this case.
Original Case and BER Judgement
Cite this page:
"Knowledge of Damaging Information"
Online Ethics Center for Engineering
6/10/2006 9:13:21 PM
National Academy of Engineering
Accessed: Tuesday, January 06, 2009
<www.onlineethics.org/CMS/profpractice/ppcases/NSPEcases/ec76-4.aspx>