A scandal is an occurrence that tarnishes one’s reputation especially an individual who is highly esteemed in society. Scandals result from violating the moral standards of society or rather losing one’s integrity. Many times, people entrusted with high responsibilities and positions of trust end up in scandals by failing to stand firm for what they advocate for and what the public expects of them. This leads to shame and lack of trust from the people that regarded them highly. Scandals are most common with public figures such as politicians and celebrities.
A scandal can be involved in sexual abuse, theft, corruption, murder or a person’s contradiction of societal morals. In this research paper, I am going to cite Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald’s scandal whereby she is alleged to have been found engaging in the tobacco business, and yet she was the director of “The Centers for Disease Control.”
Research Question
Is leadership is a risk of failure and shame?
Methods
The methods of qualitative and quantitative data analysis were used to determine the legibility of the claim that Fitzgerald took part in the tobacco business.
Quantitative data detailed the much that was invested into the business while qualitative detailed the life story of Dr. Fitzgerald on business and leadership
The Study Context
The study was conducted among ten (10) executive members of the United States of America. Five members of the committee of “The Centers for Disease Control” sector were also interviewed on the truthfulness of that allegation. Besides, the directors of Japan Tobacco, The Drug maker Merck, British American Tobacco, Reynolds America, Altria Group and Imperial Brands Philip Morris International were interviewed to establish whether Fitzgerald had purchased stocks with them.
Methods of Data Collection
Data was collected through direct interviews with the seven directors of the leading tobacco companies and the various media house personalities. Anonymous questionnaires were also given to the Executive members of the United States of America to fill.
The interviews were not easy to conduct since most people were not willing to be identified as being the individuals who disclosed information about Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald’s business in tobacco. Therefore, the method never gave much information on her business since many feared for their security and reproach from Fitzgerald.
The questionnaires yielded much information as people were more willing to fill them than to be interviewed. This was because their identity was concealed. They were, therefore, free to express themselves without any fear. Besides, the information gathered from questionnaires was raw and could be much depended upon in this research.
Secondary Data Sources
Secondary sources of information are the ones that had been collected by different individuals for different purposes but were also found relevant for this particular investigation. More information was obtained from the record of major tobacco companies concerning their shareholders on those members who were active shareholders and those that had withdrawn their shares from the companies. These assisted us to know the times that Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald started buying stocks in tobacco companies and also engaging in the same business on herself. It also helped us to know when she withdrew her shares.
Literature Review
On literature review, a scandal is defined as an occurrence, action or decision made by an individual that leads to their downfall and loss of integrity and trust from society, family and friends, especially when the decision made or action is taken is the direct opposite of what they advocated. It brings shame and remorse to the individual and may cause them to withdraw from the position they were entrusted.
The review is an investigation that was carried out on 28th January 2018. The investigation had identified that Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald had invested in small businesses in tobacco despite the fact that she was the “Centers for Disease Control (CDC)” director in the United States of America. The Wall Street Journal of 31st January 2018 stated that Brenda was guilty of engaging in tobacco businesses. She had particularly purchased shares from seven major tobacco companies in the United States of America. The companies included Japan Tobacco, The Drug Maker Merck, British American Tobacco, Reynolds American Imperial Brands, Altria Group and Philip Morris International.
An agency cited Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald’s high interest in money which reduced her ability to carry out her tasks in her position as the “Centers for Disease control” director within the Health and Human services sector. Dr. Tom Friedan stated that Dr. Fitzgerald’s manager had bought shares for her in various organizations without her knowledge. Revelations were also made that she had bought stocks in several other companies. All this interfered with her operation and work and ideally contradicted the fact that she was supposed to curb the use of such drugs instead of advocating for them. Craig Holman from The Consumer Advocacy Group said that the fact that the manager of Dr. Fitzgerald bought the tobacco shares from the company for her was not an excuse for her to own the shares. It was so shocking that a director who was supposed to prevent the use of tobacco and help improve people’s health by reducing cancer was investing in it. This was completely unethical as she was doing the direct opposite of what she was supposed to do.
Again, another investigation has recorded in the past that Dr. Fitzgerald had made fighting of childhood obesity her number one objective and the public ridiculed her for taking a large financing amount from the coca cola company. This was because excessive consumption of sodas results in obesity. Therefore, it was not logical to take sponsorship from the very company that promoted obesity. She took it upon the weak argument that obesity declined as a result of physical exercise rather than reducing the number of calories in one’s diet.
From the above disposition, it is unmistakable that Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald got herself in a scandal which was even so clear to her conscience leading to her ultimate resignation from her position. She could not be able to escape the allegations made against her and could not be depended upon to lead in a position whose principles she violated. Seemingly it is a habit that she has cultivated to do things her way however much she knows that they are wrong.
Data Analysis
The investigations on the business affairs of Dr. Fitzgerald was used to find out her engagement in tobacco investments and the effects it could cause in society for a person who held such a position. It involved thorough investigation from multiple media houses and reporters and also from the public citizens. This enabled us to know the take of the media on Fitzgerald business in tobacco and its impact on society and their moral standards as well as professional ethics.
Findings
From the observations made in the interviews and data analysis, it was found out that the media was shocked to learn of Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald was involved in tobacco trading despite the fact that she was a director in the health sector within the country (Newsweek). It was observed that the public raised doubt on the ethical standards of the government and made inquiries on how such an individual was able to be appointed as a director without ascertaining that she traded in drugs. It led to mistrust of the masses on their government (Newsweek). Others took advantage of it and began trading more openly and freely in their drug businesses. They even demanded rights as other normal businesses to carry out their own on equal terms.
Discussion
From the investigations and findings, it is clear that Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald has been and is still a lucrative business lady in tobacco. This is because she has been investing in several major tobacco companies such as Japan Tobacco, The Drug Maker Merck, British American Tobacco, Reynolds American Imperial Brands, Altria Group and Philip Morris International as stated earlier(Krisberg). She has even gone further to carry out the business on her own with stocks ranging from two thousand to fifteen thousand dollars. This came as a rude shock to the media personalities and the larger public that she has been getting involved in such business despite the fact that she was a Director in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sector. Besides that, Dr. Fitzgerald is a gynecologist and medical practitioner, making her actions more astonishing (Dennaker et al.).
Fitzgerald is said to have sold her tobacco stocks on 26th October 2017 before getting sworn in as the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control director but soon after taking up the position, she again bought stocks from multiple major companies in the USA. The media noted that Fitzgerald had cited the abolishment of tobacco as her first objective to achieve as director in the CDC and yet how ridiculous that she is the very lady who was investing in companies that were involved in selling tobacco! It is even noted that a day after buying her shares in Japan, Fitzgerald went to see the harmful consequences of using tobacco in the CDC tobacco laboratory (Dennaker et al.).
Matthew Meyers who is the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids president said that it was so grieving that a public official such as Fitzgerald could prioritize her profits and esteem them more highly than the health of the people that she had been appointed to serve and to protect. It was such a mock for the same leader to claim that she wanted to stop the use of tobacco which was the leading killer substance that could be controlled and still yet take part in promoting its business (Dennaker et al.). The media expressed their concern on such individuals who are appointed to such sensitive positions in public without their integrity being thoroughly investigated. They expressed their concern that the government should not be careless on the kind of individuals they appoint to handle such sensitive issues. Apparently, with such people in position, it could be impossible to move a step ahead since the same leaders that we have to prevent the use of drugs are ones who are taking their money to the businesses and making them more successful. The government ought to identify individuals of good conscience, piety, and integrity to take such responsibilities. Individuals who are unmovable and can steadfastly stand for what they advocate.
Still, yet again, it was noted that Fitzgerald had misappropriated funds and was unable to give an account of the finances under her care. She had so much to care about her businesses rather than carrying out her responsibilities as a director. Instead of promoting disease control and prevention, she took the funds and used them to buy stocks in tobacco companies (NPRorg). This means that she was on a mission of growing the spread of disease rather than its prevention. Surely, no person can fight against their course and succeed. She had chosen the course of spreading more disease through the harmful effects of using tobacco. She could not succeed in disease prevention and control (NPRorg).
The public citizens were astonished at Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald’s contradicting behavior and as well felt betrayed by their leaders. They seemed to lose their trust in the government and felt insecure that soon the government will cease to do its appointed task. Doing such a thing is a violation of the oath that one takes to serve in their respective appointed positions to serve the public faithfully. It leads to moral degradation and violation of ethics in society. It leads to a loss of hope for the future society as our young people are being dragged down into the pit of drug addiction. The public felt like the strength and vigor of young people could be drained with such leaders who had no vision for a better future.
Dr. Fitzgerald’s resignation was enough proof that she acknowledged her mistake and that she was not willing to stop her business for the sake of the nation. She had rather keep her business than serving the people for their good. This was a clear reflection of where society is headed and how the morals are decaying, beginning from the very persons we ought to look up to. If parents are busy promoting drug abuse and busy making profits at the expense of a future generation, how can they instruct their children in the right way? How can they expect well cultured young men while they are working out their destruction? How can they expect future protection from their children when they get old while they are building violence in them? How can even these young people listen to them while their parents are doing the direct opposite of what they tell them? in this area just a few of the questions that were raised by the media and echoed still by the masses (Lanzer).
From the above observations, it is clear that the very people that we look up to guide our steps are the very individuals who mislead us. However much we may try to create a better society, we cannot succeed with poor leadership. Society is a reflection of its leadership right from family to the very high ranks in the nation. In whatever leadership position an individual is, they should desire to offer nothing less than the very best. Morals ought to be valued more than material benefits. Leaders need to show the right example lest their actions bring them to shame, mockery and distrust among the very people who looked up to them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a leader needs to exercise integrity in all facets of their life. Society looks up to them, and it could be such a scandal when it comes into the limelight that those people they esteemed so highly could engage themselves in the basest actions, against their conscience (Lloyd & Robin). It is not proper for one to advocate for one thing and yet do the direct opposite. When a leader does that, they water down their influence among the people. As much as they may have good intentions later on in the future, no person can trust them. It is expedient that leaders should be selfless and devoted individuals with good discernment of right and wrong. They should never act in the direction which they know is wrong, especially when they have been entrusted with the principles of the right path to follow (Dennaker et al.).
Recommendation
It is recommended that the government should always check on the integrity of individuals before appointing them leadership positions. Both the academic as well as the moral attainments should be considered while appointing individuals to take various responsibilities (Wikipedia). Their interests and willingness to do the right thing in their field of leadership should be thoroughly examined.
Work Cited
CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald has resigned. Newsweek. 2018. Available at: http://www.newsweek.com/cdc-brenda-fitzgerald-resignation-trump-administration-796461. Accessed February 15, 2018.
CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald Resigns After Report She Bought Tobacco Company Stock. Time. 2018. Available at: http://time.com/5126795/cdc-director-brenda-fitzgerald-resigns/. Accessed February 15, 2018.
CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald Resigns after Reports Show Investment In Tobacco Stocks. NPRorg. 2018. Available at: https://www.npr.org/2018/01/31/582240393/cdc-director-brenda-fitzgerald-resigns-after-reports-show-investment-in-tobacco-#. Accessed February 15, 2018.
Dennaker, Germaine, et al. 5. Media Interventions to Promote Tobacco Control Policies.
Lenzer, Jeanne. “Brenda Fitzgerald: Trump’s Public Health Chief Wants to Partner with Industry.” BMJ: British Medical Journal (Online), vol. 358, 2017.
Lloyd & Robin (July 14, 2017). “Trump’s Incoming CDC Chief Brings a Mixed Record on Public Health.” Undark Magazine. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017.
Krisberg, Kim. “Fitzgerald Takes Reins at CDC; Adams Gets SG Nod.” The Nation’s Health, vol. 47, no. 7, 2017, pp. 6–6.
Wikipedia. “Trump’s top health official traded tobacco stock while leading anti-smoking efforts.” POLITICO. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
