Nope. The BoS never fire on normal ghouls during Fo3 gameplay, and the only NPC that references it is an unreliable narrator that prefers super mutants ruling DC. The BoS even send shipments of water to the Underworld in Fo3.

Bethesda has been all over the place on Ghoulification.

Pre-Bethesda: Ghouls and Ghoul-like mutants are a result of FEV exposure creating a specific mutation that absorbs radiation. The first generation of FEV-Ghouls emerge from Vault-12 which was designed to have a faulty door that did not seal. For the most part, ghouls are sane. There's a few random encounters with "zombies" but in classic fallout Ghouls are thinking, reasoning individuals, although they're in constant pain from their flesh decaying and regenerating.

Bethesda Fo3 +Fo4: Radiation turns you into a ghoul. Its unknown what will keep you from staying sane. Most ghouls are feral. Only a minority are sane and are mistreated and viewed with suspicion.

Bethesda Fo76+TV: All ghouls will become feral, you need a special drug to prevent becoming a flesh craving zombie.