Therac-25 Software DisasterThe Therac-25 is a computerized medical radiotherapy machine for cancer patients. Between June 1985 and January 1987, he was responsible for six fatal or near-fatal overdoses. These incidents are the result of a combination of factors that can be considered unethical actions committed up and down the chain of command, from manufacturers to the FDA. The Therac-25 is a dual-mode medical linear accelerator used to target less sensitive cancer cells in patients. The Therac-25 was not the first generation of this product. The previous versions, Therac-6 and Therac-20, were very similar, but the Therac-25 used more advanced technology. Compared to the Therac-20, the Therac-25 is more compact, versatile and easier to use. All these added features are consequences of its reliance on software rather than hardware. In this article, I will evaluate problematic actions that lead to poor product design (“Death and Denial”). The biggest contributing factor to poor design is in the programming of the software. The first mistake made was that only one programmer was responsible for the software in the three different versions of the Therac. Because the sole programmer neglected his responsibilities, many problems arose within the software. Examples of unethical programmer behavior include failing to inform their supervisor of the possible dangers of not having safe catches outside of the software. The programmer also used unprotected memory, improper initialization, and failed to properly test the software. Since a single programmer designed all three generations of the product, new iterations reused the same software. ("System Safet...... middle of document... placed on an individual; however, the actions of everyone involved failed to properly resolve the correct issues. References Leveson, Nancy G., Turner Clark S. “An Investigation into the Therac-25 Accidents.” Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science. February 16, 2006. April 15, 2014. http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases /therac25.aspxLeveson, Nancy G. “Medical devices: the Therac-25”. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, April 19, 2014. http://sunnyday.mit.edu/papers/therac.pdf Porrello, Anne Marie THERAC-25. A Medical Linear Accelerator” April 22, 2014. California Polytechnic State University http://users.csc.calpoly.edu/~jdalbey/SWE/Papers/THERAC25.html “System Security Computing Cases.org http:// www.computingcases.org/case_materials/therac/analysis/Safety.html.