Ethics are a matter of principle

In-Depth

Medicine, law and science all raise ethical issues of interest to the general public. Those applied to mainstream engineering deserve to be treated with the same degree of respect, argues John Uff

Later this month a special conference will unveil

re-drafted statement of Ethical Principles (SEP) for engineers, first launched in October 2005.

The revised version — drafted in collaboration with the

and the professional institutions — deals with the level of performance to be expected (accuracy and rigour); the moral duties undertaken (honesty and integrity); the focus of the engineer's duty (respect for life, law and the public good) and the duties implicit in professional engineering (responsible leadership: listening and informing).

The SEP is a document with which engineers can associate themselves with pride and confidence. Yet is this enough? In the 18 months since the SEP's initial launch no major ethical engineering issues have hit the national headlines. Debate on industry issues have continued in the trade press and professional journals but engineers have not noticeably changed their lifestyles, or attitudes to safety, the environment or the wellbeing of society.

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