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T.W. Zimmerer and P.L. Prestons Case study on Plasma International delves into the
issue of morality and accountability of business corporations. Plasma International company,
headquartered in Tampa, Florida, found new sources of blood in underdeveloped countries,
purchased it for 90 cents a pint and resold blood to hospitals in the United States or South
America at $150 a pint. City activists were outraged and demanded the companys licenses to
conduct business be revoked. Jack Smith, the companys founder claimed his company was
simply fulfilling the basic duties of a business: make a profit. The company aims to supply safe,
uncontaminated, and reasonably priced(Donaldson and Werhane, 157) to people in need. After
several cases of blood contaminated with hepatitis, the company hired highly qualified team of
medical consultants to conduct tests and find new sources. When asked about the justification of
their price per pint, Mr. Smith vaguely answered claiming their high prices are influenced by a
lot of costs the public wasnt aware of (Donaldson and Werhane, 157). There were no further
details available for the high costs about which Mr. Smith spoke.
Although the company is under extreme scrutiny for its activities, there are several ethical
theories that, when utilized as a perspective lens, can support Plasma Internationals operations.
Similarly, there are ethical theories that wholeheartedly condone the companys work and
establish a need for change. Ethical theories aside, I believe that the actions of Plasma
International Company are not justifiable. Pouncing on the poor while generating immense
profits should not be tolerated in modern society. Buying an indispensible commodity at a low
price and selling it at prices over 16,000% higher is sacrilegious. However, according to the
ethical theory of utilitarianism, Plasma Internationals operations are morally sound.
Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory based on consequences, which states that proper
action increases overall happiness for the greatest number of people. The good generated must


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outweigh the harm that results from that action. In the case of Plasma International, one can
argue that there are more people benefiting than being harmed. In response to critics who claim
they should have a higher ethical responsibility, a utilitarian would claim that the ethical
standards should and would not change relative to the good generated by Plasma International
because in their eyes, this un-marketed commodity is still maximizing benefit for all parties.
Although utilitarianism concurs with the acts of Plasma International, the Deontological
Argument would argue otherwise. The first part of Immanuel Kants deontological theory states
that we should act only on maxims we can will to be universal laws of nature. If every company
that needed inexpensive "supply" went to a third-world nation to buy it, there would be more
human rights violations. The second portion states people should not be used as a means to an
end. In this case, Plasma International is using the African tribes to their advantage by
purchasing low cost plasma and selling it to reach their goal: profitability. The third formulation
of Kants categorical imperative directs focus to the community. A corporation is a
representation of a community, and as an inherited right of a community, each member deserves
the right to express their views, oppositions (if any), and concerns with the community itself. In
addition, the intentions behind actions are critical. Plasma Internationals intentions are debatable,
but the most evident intention is to make a profit out of business operations.
Mr. Smiths denial to further evaluate the costs attributes to my standing on the issue.
The contract signed with the African tribes can be considered advantageous and should be vetted
to acquire further details. Legally binding the African tribes to pay a fixed price over an X
amount of years shows the astute nature of Plasma International and their ability to profit off of
the needy Africans. If every firm imitated Plasma Internationals operations, the use of third
world labor would dramatically increase. Thus, the anger displayed by the community is
justifiable on many terms.