Tobacco, nicotine and ethics

The other day I read that the tobacco industry, in spite of years of lawsuits and sanctions, continue to knowingly increase the addictive quality of cigarettes by increasing the amount of nicotine.

A study by the Massachusetts Department of Health found the nicotine levels in American made cigarettes has risen about 10% in the past 6 years. That makes it easier to become addicted and harder to stop smoking. They found that the 3 brands most popular with young smokers had more nicotine than 6 years ago. The level in a menthol brand increase 20%. On top of that, there was no significant difference in nicotine levels in brands marked full flavor, medium, light or ultra-light. In addition to the implications for health risks, the study also means that medications, such as nicotine patches, have to be adjusted. (For PDFs of the report and fact sheets, visit the Massachusetts Department of Health page. For the press release, click here. )

To me, this demonstrates lack of any sense of ethical responsibility and the need for a basic ethical context for our relationships and decisions at every level of society. The healthcare system is a network of relationships, not only among the major players in the system itself, but also includes relationships in business and society that impact healthcare. The action of tobacco companies overtly and intentionally places profit above the physical health of other human beings, and actually contributes to the detriment of their health. Nicotine use can contribute to developmental delays in babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant. It raises blood sugar levels and raises risk for diabetes, or makes diabetes harder to control. It can reduce effectiveness of some medications used to control blood pressure and other chronic conditions.

Profit at that expense is unethical.

So far, it appears that no action has been taken. I hope there will be. Tobaccos actions lack consideration for others, and are a glaring example of self taking primacy over the good of many. . . .profit at any price. While there are wonderful things about individualism, and the ideas that we can be whatever we want and achieve whatever we want, it cannot be at the undue expense of others, we cannot lose sight of the common good, the care for the fundamental well-being of others as much as our own.

How can we begin to change the thinking that makes this possible?