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Can Software Kill?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the of-course dept.

mykepredko writes "Eweek has an interesting, if somewhat long article titled Can Software Kill? The article focuses on a programming error that resulted in 28 Panamanian cancer patients receiving many times an expected lethal dose of radiation. The article briefly mentions, but doesn't go into detail, the 1991 Patriot Missile Failure that resulted in the deaths of 28 American service men and women."

3 of 562 comments (clear)

  1. EULA's by onyxruby · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If a software maker is found negligible and convicted of manslaughter (unintentionaly causing death) due to buggy software, would that void out the whole EULA business since they all claim they can't be held responsible? Or would the burden pass on the poor chap that used it for being irresponsible enough to use something where the maker couldn't be held accountable? Lets's face it, why are only software companies able to make themselves free from accountability when every other industry has to design for it?

    1. Re:EULA's by stratjakt · · Score: 5, Interesting

      What other manufacturer would be held accountable?

      My TV comes with a warrantee, but that says they wont be liable for any damage or caused by the use of the tv.

      I bought a bucked of concrete paint a week ago. It's guaranteed not to fail, but that guarantee doesnt cover the cost to remove/strip/repair the damage caused by bad paint (thousands), just 20 bucks for a new can of paint.

      In court you'd have to prove negligence or deliberate behavior. You'd have to prove Sony designed the TV to electrocute you, etc.. The fact they get it UL listed is enough to get past that.

      For software you'd have to show that they deliberately put the flaws in, or knew about the flaws and didnt care (depraved indifference)..

      But I'm no lawyer so who knows.. Everyone can go fucking sue everyone else.

      All I know is if Dr Pib puts a family member on an untested, unproven life support system, and it fails, I'm suing the Doctor.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  2. A dumb question, yet a good one by phorm · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Can negligence in any area kill? Yes.
    Software is no different from hardware in this aspect. If it is handling mission-critical or potentially-lethal equipment... great care should be taken to ensure its integrity.

    Trusting those that make your irraditation software is no different from trusting the those that made your life-support hardware.

    Human error, or mechanical, can mean death in both cases. If the error is glaring, it becomes a case of negligence.

    Unfortunately in cases of software or even computer hardware operating environment becomes an often overlooked factor. Stress tests are needed... data collisions checked for, line noise, redundancy, etc. When we're talking about people's lives, that extra parity bit can be just as important as a backup-parachute...