PUBLIC DISSENT AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

An engineer disagrees on a major issue with his employer. He explains why he disagrees, but is unsuccessful in getting the decision changed. Question: Are there any situations in which he should publicly "Blow the Whistle" or expose his employer? (For example, in the case of what he considers to be an ill-advised freeway or canal project or airport or dam.) He can always quit, of course, but seldom will his quitting lead to a changed decision on a disputed engineering matter. If he does blow the whistle, he could be fired--will his profession support him, or at least investigate whether he should be supported and not fired." Indeed, Ralph Nader says a man is truly a professional only if he is in a field where his fellow specialists do support their whistle blowers. In this article four civil engineers discuss the issue.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/10480594
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Publication Date: 1973-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 98-99
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0885-7024
  • Serial URL: http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/newce/html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ethics; Professional employment
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00050331
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Civil Engineers
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 11 1974 12:00AM