Therac-25 Socio-technical Analysis

Educational Resource
Author:Anonymous
Abstract:

The safety of the Therac-25 is not really a property of the machine alone. Accidents that go unreported contribute to (or at least fail to stop) later accidents. When the TV camera in the room is unplugged, the operator cannot see that the patient is in trouble. So safety is really a property of the entire technical and social system (socio-technical system). In a similar manner, an ethical analysis of the issues in this case requires an awareness of the entire socio-technical system.

Keywords:
Catastrophes, Hazards, Disasters, Ethics and Society, Product Liability, Research and Practice, Safety
Rights:
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
Language:
English
Publisher:
Online Ethics Center
Published Date:
2020
Related Links:
  • https://onlineethics.org/cases/therac-25/therac-25-socio-technical-analysis
    • Notes:

    Case Study / Scenario|Educational Activity Description|Historical / Non-Fiction Case

    Persistent Link:
    https://doi.org/10.18130/7qrp-e770