Introduction
The study research in the film involves Erin Brockovich playing a role of a consumer advocate (American Psychological Association, 2010). Erin conducts research on environmental pollution because pacific gas and electric (PG&E) companies cause massive harm to the residents of Hinkley, California (Rotten Tomatoes, 2000). Precisely, the residents of Hinkley suffer from tumors and other carcinogenic infections. The research study covers personal injury, medical issues, advocacy, and compensation (Houser, 2013). Erin discovers that PG&E dumps high levels of hexavalent chromium that contaminates the underground water.
The residents are not aware of the adverse effects of hexavalent chromium, although there are a series of tumors incidences that are present in the hospitals. This paper seeks to identify different methods of data collection, the need for health assessment, and the ethical implications present in research. The research employs components in social science and encompasses question-answer criteria of seeking information from the respondents (Houser, 2013).
Methods of Data Collection
Erin gathers data on Pacific Gas and Electric Company through secondary sources and primary sources. The secondary sources involve long due case files on PG&E, and primary sources involve face-to-face interviews with Donna, the plaintiff of PG&E (Houser, 2013). Furthermore, Erin conducts informed interviews with her neighbors in order to identify the detrimental effects of the hexavalent chromium from PG&E. Erin motivates other members in the community toward identifying the cause of tumors and carcinogenic infections in Hinkley (American Psychological Association, 2010).
According to Houser (2013), other methods applicable in gathering data on environmental, medical, and ethical issues are face-to-face interviews, questionnaires, direct mail, and observations. Donna and Hinkley’s correspondents play a major role in gathering evidence of medical records to file against PG&E. Moreover, Erin realizes PG&E does not disclose any vital information to the public and in return offers free treatment on tumor-associated diseases (American Psychological Association, 2010).
Conducting a Needs Assessment
Erin identifies the reasons for free medical camps from PG&E correspondence to the residents of Hinkley. She sets a campaign that creates awareness for the rights of the Hinkley residents (American Psychological Association, 2010). In addition, Erin determines the carcinogenicity effects of hexavalent chromium on the residents of Hinkley through interviews and observation (Houser, 2013).
She gathers the support of the community in order to advocate a safe underground water supply to the residential and commercial areas in Hinkley, California. The desired wants in the needs assessment involve the determination of the cause of the high number of tumors and the reason for free treatment from PG&E doctors (Houser, 2013). Erin incorporates a lawyer, Mr. Ed, and increases the number of plaintiffs in order to arrange for disposition by binding arbitration. A non-compliant employee of PG&E cooperates with Erin in order to file a case of compensation for Hinkley residents and accuse PG&E of environmental pollution (Rotten Tomatoes, 2000).
Use of Needs Assessment
Erin uses a systematic process to acquire information on the prevalence, distribution, and interrelations of carcinogenic hexavalent chromium in Hinkley (American Psychological Association, 2010). The prevalence of tumors in Hinkley is high, and the major cause is unknown until Erin starts her medical research of Donna, the plaintiff toward PG&E (Rotten Tomatoes, 2000). Previously, Erin had little information about PG&E. Erin’s employment with Mr. Ed interests her toward conducting research on medical records that involves PG&E and Donna. PG&E doctors are aware of the causes of tumors in Hinkley and offer free services at the expense of the company. Erin measures the detrimental effects of hexavalent chromium and realizes the likelihood of the increase of tumors in Hinkley.
The need assessment information proves that PG&E doctors are guilty of violating human rights by treating incurable diseases at the expense of not preventing the cause of the disease (Houser, 2013). The information is vital toward suing the PG&E Company for causing harm to the Hinkley residents and justifies the need for compensation. Lawyer Ed reports the information by filing a case against the company. All Hinkley residents cooperate toward suing PG&E for the damage to the ecosystem and health of individuals (American Psychological Association, 2010).
Ethical Implications
The ethical implications are evident from the beginning of the film where Erin sues a doctor for hitting her with his car but loses the case (Rotten Tomatoes, 2000). Erin further discovers a common medical problem among the residents of Hinkley due to the environmental pollution of PG&E. It is unethical for PG&E to dump hexavalent chromium in the underground water poisoning the water supply to the residents of Hinkley (Houser, 2013).
In terms of career and professional ethics, Mr. Ed, allows Erin to conduct an investigation on a file that involves the purchase of Donna’s home by PG&E. Furthermore, Erin seeks information from Donna and other households without the legal documents from the law society. Business ethics violation is evident where PG&E offers $250,000 for Donna’s home in compensation for tumor disorders in the family (American Psychological Association, 2010). There are also incidences of deception, bribery, and environmental pollution that violate ethical issues in research (Houser, 2013).
References
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Houser, J. (2013). Nursing research: Reading, using, and creating evidence. Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Rotten Tomatoes. (2000). Erin Brockovich (2000). Web.