DP1

DecisionPoint
http://proethica.org/ontology/cases#DecisionPoint

DP1

Should Engineer B accept the post-occupancy inspection engagement and issue an honest technical report including adverse findings about Engineer A's original design, or decline the engagement to avoid the appearance of competitive criticism of a predecessor engineer?

Engineer B, retained by the new owner to conduct a post-occupancy inspection of a facility originally designed by Engineer A, must decide whether to accept the engagement and issue an honest technical report — including adverse findings about Engineer A's heating equipment sizing — given that Engineer A's contractual relationship with the project had been fully completed and paid years earlier, and the new owner has a legitimate need for independent engineering assessment.

Accept the post-occupancy inspection, participate in the joint wiring inspection, conduct an independent plumbing and heating study, and issue a complete and honest report to the new owner — including adverse findings about heating equipment sizing — without suppressing conclusions out of collegial deference to Engineer A, whose project connection has been fully terminated.

Accept the inspection engagement but frame all findings as neutral observations and recommendations for the owner's consideration rather than as adverse conclusions about Engineer A's design decisions, avoiding any characterization of the original equipment sizing as a 'design inadequacy' while still identifying the current performance shortfall.

Decline the inspection engagement upon learning that the new owner's dissatisfaction is directed at a specific predecessor engineer, on the ground that honest performance of the assignment would necessarily involve adverse findings about Engineer A's professional work and could expose Engineer B to a complaint of competitive self-interest.

Engineer