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Original poster

Moral dilemma - I know everyone likes these.

89 replies

KIQFTM · 01/10/2004 10:38

Am a regular poster and might end up giving myself away here but ho hum...

A few months ago I was asked to take part in a survey of a product for big multi-national company, a RICH multi-national company. For testing said product for 16 weeks I would be paid the princely sum of £100.

HOWEVER. One of the the provisos for not doing it was if I became pregnant. Well, I have.

So, do I cough up or do I continue (partner's idea) since they would never know anyway. They don't know whether I'm doing as I promised anyway, it's all on trust. In theory, I might not have found out I was pregnant until after the trial period ended. The product is not dangerous.

So, am I a wuss or an upstanding member of the community?

OP posts:
carla · 01/10/2004 10:41

We need more details. What was the product and how would it have affected the outcome of the survey by your becoming pregnant???

saintshar · 01/10/2004 10:43

I am VERY intrigued........

Keep schtum, i would!!

lou33 · 01/10/2004 10:47

Say nothing.

Original poster
KIQFTM · 01/10/2004 10:47

Without giving too much away, you may sweat more when pregnant...

OP posts:
carla · 01/10/2004 10:51

Well £100 for 16 weeks doesn't sound like much to me. Keep yer gob shut!

carla · 01/10/2004 10:52

And wear more anti-perspirant

coppertop · 01/10/2004 11:57

If it's a rich multi-national then I would say to carry on and keep the money.

Original poster
KIQFTM · 01/10/2004 14:29

So I take it I'm a wuss

OP posts:
Fizog · 01/10/2004 14:38

Keep quiet, defo

poppyseed · 01/10/2004 14:44

Why was pregnancy an issue with them?
I might be good and tell them [saintly emoticon] - they may let you keep it anyway??

aloha · 01/10/2004 15:06

Oh, no don't say anything! Do the trial and take the money.

acnebride · 01/10/2004 15:06

Um, um, I have to be honest and say I would tell them. There might be something you/your GP/midwife should know?

congratulations!

sis · 01/10/2004 17:07

If you do decide to tell them, I wouldn't think you were a wuss! I'd own up too (unless I really, really needed the money!)

Original poster
KIQFTM · 01/10/2004 18:08

Well, I've just accpetd the 2nd package. Caught on the hop. That means I'm now complicit in a fraud!

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 01/10/2004 18:52

Do you have to even test the product? I would just say that I had tested it and take the money, but then I have no morals when it comes to rich multi-national companies!

WideWebWitch · 01/10/2004 18:57

Don't tell 'em, it's only 100quid, hardly crime of the century.

littlemissbossy · 01/10/2004 18:58

IME rich multi-nationals don't have many morals, so take the money, unless you can't hide your pregnancy from them

whizzz · 01/10/2004 19:01

Could you get a non pregnant friend to test the product on your behalf ? I'll let you work out whether to give said friend a cut of the pay out & how much (or maybe that is the next thread !!)

SofiaAmes · 01/10/2004 22:31

I hope all of you guys are joking? Do you really think that because it's a rich company, that makes it ok to lie to them and take £100 under false pretences. Does that mean that it's ok to shoplift from Tesco, but not from your corner store? I really hope that you are all saying this tongue in cheek. KIQFTM, you made an agreement to do something, and not to continue doing it if you became pregnant. If your child made a deal with you to do homework before getting to watch tv and then watched tv anyway because you had gone out and wouldn't know anyway, would you think that was ok behavior?
Sorry to rant, but this really irritates me. It's like throwing a gum wrapper on the ground and saying it's ok because it's only small. It's not ok, it's littering. And similarly, it's not ok to take money, however little and however rich the giver, under false pretences.

Heathcliffscathy · 01/10/2004 22:37

sofia i strongly disagree. i feel that big multinationals rob us blind, exploit both western consumers and poor nations with natural or labour resources. sorry but i do think it's ok because it's a big company.

i'll be heading off to an anarcho-commune shortly

pixiefish · 01/10/2004 22:40

But you fibbing might affect the outcome of the research... could someone be hurt by this change in the outcome... IMO you're being paid to do a job- if you can't do it you should pay the money back...sorry not to agree with people

Freckle · 01/10/2004 22:41

Also, being upfront and honest now might lead them to ask you to do different research - and perhaps more money.

acnebride · 01/10/2004 22:49

Don't care whether it's a single mum in a stringy cardy running a corner newsagent or Amalgamated Global Breadheads Inc 'We Screw The Environment For Money' - I still say tell 'em. I'm sorry if you lose the $100 tho.

handlemecarefully · 01/10/2004 22:51

Oh blimey! - lighten up for heavens sake (not you KIQFTM).

Yes of course, don't say a word and keep the money.

littlemissbossy · 01/10/2004 22:52

IGNORE THEM
take the money and run