Blog Post 13: Criteria for Evaluation

Here are the Criteria discussed in class. Use these to shape the final criteria that will be used by your group. Post the final criteria and the process you will use to evaluate and rank the members of your team related to the final project. 

                                             -Attendance/Participation

                                             -Tasks Accomplished

                                             -Professionalism

                                             -Communication

                                             -Contribution

Blog Post 12: 5S process

Post a record of a 5S process that you have completed. Post a before and after picture. Also, post a short narrative of how you addressed each of the "8s's" of the 5S process. 

Sorting - The counter top/sink area was cluttered with things that had no purpose (mostly empty bottles and cans). I sorted out everything that was unnecessary on the counter.

Straightening - The things that I wanted to keep out were kind of randomly strewn across the counter. I straightened everything by putting things in their respective places

Systematic cleaning - The counter and sink were dirty, and their were a few dirty cups and dishes in the sink. I cleaned everything and put the dishes away.

Standardizing - I organized the dishes in a way that maximized their order and accessibility.

 Sustaining - I plan on maintaining the cleanliness of the counter

Safety - The amount of empty glass bottles lying around was potentially dangerous, so cleaning the counter increases the safety in the kitchen.

 Security - Since everything is organized, my belongings are more secure since it is easier to tell when something is missing or misplaced.

 Satisfaction - having a clean kitchen is very satisfactory to me and my roommate. 

Blog post 11: Quality Management

Identify and describe a quality management process that is utilized in your field of interest. Typically this process is in response or guided by a professional organization in that field. Identify that organization.

Quality management is something that is of paramount importance in chemistry labs. A lapse in quality control can ruin an entire project. Dow Chemical, for example, aims for seven sigma - 20 defects per billion.  Dow adopted the six sigma process in 1998 and is now considered to be one of the leading practitioners of the quality management process. Dow implements the process at all functions in their company - not just production. Things like customer service, energy consumption and health and safety have all benefited from the implementation of six sigma.

Blog Post 10: Specific Ethical Question

Ask/address an ethical question in your field of interest.


        Field of Interest: Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry
        Ethical Issue: Is it ethical to develop drugs that carry harmful side effects?

Develop/address arguments for each side of the issue, then defend your position on the issue.
This activity must include references


         Many drugs that are currently available that harbor significant side effects. For example, a drug that has recently been receiving quite a bit of attention recently is Chantix (varenicline). Its purpose is to assist in the cessation of smoking by stimulating nicotine receptors in the brain. The FDA approved the use of Chantix in 2006 after a 6-month review process (4 months shorter than the standard 10-month review process).While it has proved to be at least somewhat effective to a large number of people, it has had a great amount of publicity dealing with it's staggering level of adverse psychological side effects. According to the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices, in the second quarter of 2008 alone Chantix was linked to nearly 1000 cases of serious injury or death, mostly stemming from suicidal behavior, a major side effect associated with Chantix.

        So who's to blame? The chemist for creating it? The pharm company for selling it? The FDA for approving it? The doctor for describing it? The patient for taking it? One could argue that those who produce the drug are ultimately the ones responsible for the damage caused by the drug. This is why pharmaceutical companies have payed billions of dollars in class action settlements. Many people have faith that the drugs they are prescribed by their doctors are safe, or that they will at least be informed of potential side effects.  However, it is often the case that doctors are somewhat misinformed about the drugs they are prescribing - maybe they are unaware of some potential side effects. It is much easier to blame the big corporation on the other side of the country than it is to blame someone you personally trust with your health.

        The fact is, when something goes wrong, someone has to get blamed. Sometimes the doctor gets blamed, but more often then not it's the pharmaceutical company. While certain business aspects of the pharmaceutical industry can often be ethically questionable, I believe that there is nothing ethically wrong with producing a dangerous drug from the standpoint of a chemist. When a chemist develops a novel drug, they clearly cannot instantly know whether the drug is completely safe or not, or whether or not it will carry potential side effects - that matter is addressed later on in the production process. It is much different than say, a nuclear chemist who develops a novel explosive that is used in nuclear weapons - they know that what they are producing is catastrophically dangerous. However, developing a drug is a bit different as the potential hazards (and benefits) are not manifest when the drug is first created. So, then, who is to blame? Tough question, as I think some of the blame can be passed around, but I certainly would not blame the chemist.




References:
FDA Speeds Smoking Cessation Drug Review (Journal of the American Medical Association)
ISMP Quarter Watch 2008

Each student will then review this beginning on Nov 2.

Evaluation Criteria:

1-4 are evaluated by assigning a strong(S), medium(M) or weak(W)

1. Described field of interest and described question posed.
2. Both sides of argument were presented.
3. Appropriate references were included
4. Defended position is described clearly

5. provide one useful comment

Blog Post 9: Project Title, Issue, and Action Plan

Solar Power

Our group is presenting on solar power - specifically why it is not being utilized to greater extents. We also plan to develop a "take-home-message" regarding the future of solar power and whether or not it is a viable option as a sustainable energy source.

Blog Post 8: Ethical Question

Is it ethical for a physician to accept Wild tickets from a pharmaceutical rep to take her family to the game?

Provide an argument for this based on the current ethical fabric of society and what is accepted in the organizations involved.


I believe the simple act of gifting hockey tickets does not carry any sort of implications whatsoever. Therefore, I don't see anything ethically wrong with accepting the free tickets from a pharm rep. It is fairly common for business partners involved in this type of relationship to exchange gifts. I feel as if the act of trading gifts, such as hockey tickets, is more of a courteous business gesture used to build a solid relationship rather than an under-the-table gray-area bribery tactic.  If I was in the physician's position, I wouldn't feel any sort of obligation to the pharm company.

Blog Post 7: General Ethics

Post an ethical code/statement for your career field of interest that has been developed by a professional organization in your field.


America Chemical Society Code of Ethics (PDF)

Post this code/statement for the following countries: USA, India, China, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Isreal


USA - see above


The other countries listed either do not have a national professional organization, or the national professional organization doesn't have a specific code or statement on ethics.