Richard's Radioactive Risk
Richard's Radioactive Risk
Paul is an experienced technician working in Dr. Monson's
laboratory. Over the past seven years, he has become Monson's
close friend and confidant. Recently, Monson assumed additional
administrative responsibilities within the department. Knowing
that his time in the laboratory would be decreased, Monson
privately asked Paul to begin to manage the laboratory's daily
operations.
Lisa joined Monson's laboratory two years ago and is the
only post-graduate researcher in the laboratory. Before Paul
received his new assignment, Lisa and Paul worked very well
together; however, after Lisa heard third-hand about Paul's new
position of authority, she felt overlooked and offended. Lisa
felt that because she has more formal education than Paul, she
should have been asked to manage the laboratory.
Lisa concluded that discussing her feelings with Monson
would negatively affect her future career options, so she
decided not to speak with Monson. Lisa and Paul maintained a
professional relationship for a short while; however, soon
their interactions began to sour. Paul sensed Lisa's resentment
as a challenge to his position in the laboratory and began to
exert greater authority over the lab equipment. Lisa responded
by leaving the equipment dirty after using it. Over time, Lisa
and Paul have stopped talking to each other and avoided
interacting whenever possible. Nevertheless, when Monson is
around, they try to put on a convincing facade of professional
respect.
Richard is an undergraduate working in Monson's laboratory
with Lisa. He has watched the development of the negative
relationship between Paul and Lisa. Lisa has even confided in
Richard that she believes that Paul is tampering with some of
her experiments to make her look bad. To avoid the rapidly
escalating conflict in the laboratory, Richard quietly and
quickly performs his assigned duties each day and then leaves
as early as possible. As time passes, the situation
dramatically worsens.
The crucial incident
One evening Lisa asks Richard to stay a bit late and finish
an incubation step in a protocol. He agrees, and Lisa goes
home. Paul is still in the laboratory working, but he is
unaware that Richard is there too. Richard's cubicle is
positioned so that he can easily see Paul's bench and Lisa's
cubicle. Paul puts on some gloves and begins to work at his lab
bench. Richard has an important exam the next day, so he begins
to study at his cubicle. Paul is still unaware that Richard is
in the laboratory. After studying for a few minutes, Richard
notices that Paul is doing something in Lisa's cubicle space.
Richard cannot directly see what Paul is doing. Soon, Paul
emerges from Lisa's cubicle. Richard sees that Paul is
carefully holding a vial, which he sets on his bench; he
cautiously discards his gloves and walks out of the lab.
Richard curiously goes to see what was in the vial. The vial
is a well-marked radioactive container. He feels very uneasy.
Before Paul returns to the laboratory, Richard quickly finishes
the incubation and goes home.
Discussion Questions:
- What should Richard do?
- What responsibility did Richard have to inform Lisa about
his observation?
- What are the risks Richard assumes and ethical conflicts
he faces in informing or not informing Lisa?
After much thought and deliberation, Richard calls Lisa at
home and explains what he saw. Lisa thanks him for alerting
her. Lisa arrives at the lab early the next day and tests her
cubicle for the presence of any radioactive residues. Lisa
finds that her chair may be contaminated. Lisa contacts the
Office of Laboratory Safety (OLS). An OLS worker comes to the
lab and confirms that Lisa's chair is contaminated with some
sort of radioactive compound. Lisa notifies Monson about the
situation. After speaking with Monson, Paul confesses to
putting the radioactive substance on Lisa's chair.
Discussion Questions:
- What were the proper and improper actions of Lisa, Paul,
Richard, Monson and the institution?
- Was Paul the only person who should have accepted
responsibility?
- Although this case may seem overly dramatic and even
extreme, the fact that it did occur (reported here with minor
interpretational modifications) poignantly demonstrates the
powerful role of interpersonal relationship within a working
context. How could this incident have been avoided?
-
Commentary: Richard's Radioactive Risk
Commentary on the potential dilemmas encountered by postdoctoral fellows in a research setting, specifically in a lab where conflict between a researcher and lab tech is not monitored by the head of the lab.
-
Participant's Commentary: Richard's Radioactive Risk
Participant's commentary on potential dilemmas encountered by postdoctoral fellows in a research setting, specifically in a lab where conflict between a researcher and lab tech is not monitored by the head of the lab.