Clarifying Responsibility

During a recent equipment issue, the client requested an English version of the manual.
The manufacturer had only a Japanese version.
At that point, I had two options:

１ Translate it myself and send it.

２ Push to obtain the official English manual, no matter how long it took.

As an engineer, it was tempting to take the shortcut.
I knew the content. I could translate it accurately.
But I also knew: if something went wrong, the line of responsibility would be blurred.
Who would be accountable?
Not the original manufacturer. Not the end user.
Possibly me.

In the U.S., there’s a famous example—someone microwaved a pet because the manual didn’t say not to. The company lost the lawsuit.
Unthinkable? Maybe. But it shows how far responsibility can stretch when documentation fails.

So I chose the longer path.
I negotiated persistently and obtained the official English version.
This wasn’t just about language. It was about trust, legal clarity, and doing things the right way.

Through this experience, I learned how essential it is to clarify responsibility—not only in the result, but throughout the decision-making process.
It’s a reminder that engineering isn’t only technical—it’s ethical.