FACTS & ETHICAL ISSUE 

Lesotho is a small developing country in South Africa. A valuable research study is being conducted by 10 researchers to test disease-causing water which is only found in Lesotho. This study would result in a lot of publications. 

The ethical issue in this case study is whether or not the communities of Lesotho should be compensated for their time and efforts dedicated to assisting the academic researchers in their study. The Lesotho community has to show the researchers the water supply and explain the water storage methods. Although the water testing is simple, significant help is required from the Lesotho community.

 

STAKEHOLDERS 

• Companies developing chemical additives to treat water
• People of Lesotho who are actually using contaminated water supplies and could benefit from cleaner water
• Lesotho government/community leaders who are in contact with the researchers 
• Researchers who are actually conducting the research
• Academic institutions and companies financially backing the research venture

 

MOTIVATIONS OF STAKEHOLDERS 

• Community members: want cleaner & safer water to improve the health of the community overall
• Companies developing chemical additives: financial profits, positive reputation, and scientific advancements if they succeed in helping make water safer in Lesotho
• Lesotho Government/community leaders: a positive reputation for prioritizing community health, helps for re-election
• Researchers (primary): want to understand pathogens so that they can get publications, awards, etc leading to money, reputation, and recognition; intrinsically motivated to positively impact the Lesotho community by making the water safe to drink
• Academic institutions and companies financially backing venture: positive reputation
• Scientific Community (secondary): absorb the information about this study in regards to pathogens, which could then trickle down into other research projects within the academic scientific community 

 

FORMULATE ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS

• Provide monetary compensation (minimum wage) to community members who are helping out

1. Absolutism
2. They are being paid the standard amount so there wouldn’t be any negative feelings
3. Short term as they will only be compensated for a short amount of time. The money the community members would be paid would eventually run out.

• Since the employment rate is so low, the community members could get employed by local companies to manufacture chemical additives that are developed and teach them how to treat water, etc 

1. Relativism
2. It’s going to be long term as after showing the researchers around, they have jobs to go back to 
3. Would there be enough jobs for all community members involved in showing the water sources?

 

• Provide ration cards 

1. Absolutism
2. In a developing country with low employment rates, there would probably be a food shortage
3. The community members may not be satisfied with this compensation scheme. They might want something more substantial

 

• If some of the people helping are educated university students/graduates, they can help with intellectual work, be co-authors and get an introduction to the scientific community 

1. Relativism
2. Long term benefits as it would open doors for them in the scientific community
3. There might be very few community members who are educated and would benefit from this particular scheme

 

BEST COURSE OF ACTION

The best course of action for compensation would be providing minimum wage for every hour spent by the community members involved in showing the researchers the water sources. The minimum wage is a standardized amount so there shouldn’t be any discontentment with respect to the amount they are being paid. Moreover, since Losotho is a developing country, the community members would be happy to receive monetary compensation. They could spend the money they earned to get whatever they need whether it’s money, clothes, health care, etc. I think paying minimum wage is the most standardized, equal, and universal solution. Other solutions like providing employment may not be as standardized since everyone may not get the same job. People might be employed under different roles with different salaries, work hours, etc. Similarly, people may not be satisfied with ration cards since maybe food isn’t an issue faced by Losotho community members. 

 

IMPACT

 Technological

• Compensating community members wouldn’t have any technological impacts since the technology being used to test the water would be the same. The actual technical research being conducted would remain the same, irrespective of compensation.

Social

• Researchers and the overall project would be viewed more positively by the Losotho community members. They would be more receptive to the project and more engaged with it since they are being compensated for their efforts
• The Losotho community might be more inclusive of the researchers into their community for the time the researchers are in Losotho

 

Economic 

• This project would be generously funded so paying minimum wage according to Losotho standards shouldn’t make a significant difference in the budget of the project. Of course, the compensation has to be accounted for and money would have to be set aside for it. I don’t think it would be a significant portion of the whole budget though

 

Environmental aspects

• A more positive environment would be created by the Lesotho community towards the researchers if they’re being compensated for their efforts. 
• The research results might be better since the Lesotho community members would show the researchers the water sources with more interest if they’re being compensated and so they might provide the researchers with better data