The Things We Do For Authority Figures

I have been reading about conformity and obedience as part of my homework assignment. In doing so I have come across several examples of how people blindly obey those who appear to be legitimate authority figures.

The first experiment consists of a group nurses. Each ones receives a phone call to give a particular patient a dose of medication that is significantly higher than the actual prescribed dosage. The caller identifies himself as a doctor. One nurse, refused to do so stating that she would need a written order to give such a high dose and she was not familiar enough to comply and further stated if it were possible she would be happy to administer the medication but it was against hospital policy. Twenty-two other nurses proceeded to measure out the medication and head to the patients room with the intent of administering the medication as the "doctor" ordered only to be stopped and told an experiment was being conducted. The doctor orders, the nurse delivers.

In another experiment involving nurses and doctor, the doctor rights a prescription for a patient who has an ear infection in the right ear. In his haste the prescription is written as "place two drops in R ear". The nurse proceeds to administer the medication in the patient's rectum!

The final experiment involves restuarant managers. The receive a phone call from "the police" describing a particular individual who is wanted for breaking the law. Once the person is identified--some were customers, some were employees of the restaurant--the manager follows the instructions to do a strip search of the individual. One manager did a full body cavity search of a 17 year old female customer matching "police" description. Someone else, proceeds to do the same search of a female employee. When arrested, the attorney for this individual stated he never wanted to do it but was carrying out the orders of "the police".

These example really make you think about the things we consider doing in blind obedience to those we presume to be in authority of us. This calls for listening to the guidance of the Holy Ghost.