Scribd
Upload
2 views1 page

Tobacco Companies and Cancer Research Ethics

Donations from tobacco companies to cancer research or hospitals are seen as attempts to alleviate guilt for their role in causing diseases like lung cancer. While these companies acknowledge the harm caused by their products, such CSR initiatives do not align with the true purpose of corporate social responsibility. The WHO has banned such CSR activities by tobacco companies, emphasizing that no donation can compensate for the suffering of cancer patients and their families.

Uploaded by

aishwaryaanand2003
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views1 page

Tobacco Companies and Cancer Research Ethics

Donations from tobacco companies to cancer research or hospitals are seen as attempts to alleviate guilt for their role in causing diseases like lung cancer. While these companies acknowledge the harm caused by their products, such CSR initiatives do not align with the true purpose of corporate social responsibility. The WHO has banned such CSR activities by tobacco companies, emphasizing that no donation can compensate for the suffering of cancer patients and their families.

Uploaded by

aishwaryaanand2003
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

What do you think about a tobacco company donating money to do cancer research or to a

cancer hospital as part of their CSR strategy?

In my opinion, a tobacco company donating to do cancer research or cancer treatment is a


classic case of the company attempting to alleviate the guilt stemming from its role in causing
diseases among its customers. Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer.
Apart from this, smoking can also lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hearing loss, vision loss
etc. On the contrary, the benefits of tobacco usage are very minimal- enhanced performance and
stress relief. Consumers usually end up paying a very high price, often in the form of life-
threatening diseases, in exchange for the short-term stress relief and enhanced performance
provided by tobacco products.
Most lung cancer patients end up developing the disease only because of tobacco usage.
All tobacco companies are aware of this fact. CSR initiatives, such as involvement in cancer
research and treatment, could be seen as these companies acknowledging the harm they've
caused to the health and well-being of their consumers. But that is not the idea of CSR. The idea
of CSR involves firms using consumer- and environment-related socially responsible activities to
foster a perception of positive impact on social and environmental concerns in the community.
In fact, the WHO has banned all CSR activities by tobacco companies across many
countries including Canada ([Link]
details/5592). A company’s CSR initiatives need not have to necessarily be an act of balancing
the harm that they have done to the society or environment. More so, for a tobacco company
because no amount of money donated to cancer research and cure can compensate for what
cancer patients and their families go through.

You might also like