•••quote:•••The amount of honor in most professions is a function of the systems that drive the profession, rather than the cumulative moral character of those that entered it. ••••This argument is pure and utter rubbish. It's the old 'I'm just a cog in the wheel' argument. Things like honor, morality, and ethics are not systematic at all. They are byproducts of the individual parts. That is to say, it is how each individual behaves that reflects the said group.
I don't know your personal background, but the argument is spoken like a true lawyer. Alan Dershowitz has used this nonsense to defend his role in child rapist trials. Hitler's Nazi army used the same defense at Nuremberg. Unfortunately for those Nazi's, we are all held responsible for what we do individually. Being a member of a niche group NEVER excuses flagitious acts against mankind. Nor does it excuse the behavior of some 'group' of attorneys.
•••quote:••• Example: there are no laws preventing accounting firms from consulting at the same companies they audit. Thus, Anderson Consulting had a huge incentive to "generously" (probably illegally) audit Enron's books so they could continue collecting gigantic consulting fees.. Your logic would say that the people at Anderson are bad, immoral people. I would say that if Anderson hadn't done this, some other firm would have filled the vacuum. That's nature; and that's capitalism. Therefore, I would blame the system, not the people in it. To maintain a moral business environment, we must change the rules that create the systems in which business (and businessmen) operate. Likewise, with lawyers, our system is set up to ensure honest, high-quality medical care by holding the threat of lawsuits over the heads of doctors. Crappy system. But it ain't the lawyers' fault. They're just part of the system that WE as a society have put in place. They aren't the problem, the system is.... I appluad you for you legislative efforts.••••Again, we as INDIVIDUALS are not permitted to blame heinous acts against mankind by pointing to membership of a particular group. Enron employees and Anderson accountants had the opportunity to blow the whistle. Some tried and were fired for these benevolent acts. Claiming membership to a group of theives does not excuse, nor should it, acts of theft. Defrauding 1000's of their life savings is theft plain and simple. Those who committed these acts individually are responsible just as Hitler's murderers were responsible. Even if superior powers give the orders to kill, steal, or lie, there is no excuse for such reprehensible behavior. Each individual will and should be held accountable.
•••quote:••• Justice applies to everyone, no matter how terrible their actions... Also, from a prictical point of view, we should given Bin Laden a fair trial so as to ensure that he doesn't become a martyr, inspiring future terrorist acts against American citizens.••••I would argue that justice would be served more expeditiously by shooting this monster on site. In point of fact, it seems you are not well versed in the workings of the law. Not everyone is entitled to a trial, nor should they be. This is highlighted quite well in times of war. Perhaps we should set up tribunals in Afghanistan and risk life and limb to coax terrorists to willingly submit to legal proceedings. I know this would be a lawyer's wet dream, but it certainly isn't in the interest of preservation of human life.
Ultimately we will all be judged by our actions individually. I doubt the powers that be will overlook Nazi atrocity if confronted with the defense 'I was just a cog in Hitler's wheel'. Nuremberg didn't recognize this outrageous and insulting defense, nor should we. If lawyers are going to perpetuate corruption theft, and a whole host of other acts of immorality, they should certainly be held accountable INDIVIDUALLY.
•••••This is an interesting topic for discussion. As an EMT we were taught that the man/woman with the most training was in charge of a call. This means if you stop at the scene of an accident, you can conceivably give orders to paramedics and EMT's in patient management. This even applies to recent grads who are fresh out of med school. Be careful though, as many of you do not have emergency training at all! It is very different than training you have received in your clerkships. If you do order meds/treatments that cause unnecessary damage to the patient, you can be held culpible, samaritan laws be damned! What should happen and what does happen are two entirely seperate issues when it comes to lawyers. The legal profession often behaves like a bloodsucker, and just because you are helping out of the goodness of your heart doesn't mean you are without responsibility to them. 
