Deontological Ethics Case Study - Essay Example

Company officials failed to map out civilian farms to be avoided despite the US Congress approving the discriminate use of harmful herbicides in the region (Lawson, 2001). As a result, approximately 10,000 natives of the region suffered from severe health complication. In addition, an immense loss of livestock and agricultural produce occurred. Dyncorp faced further disgrace in 2005 when allegations made by a whistleblower named Ben Johnston surfaced. He claimed that Dyncorp soldiers engaged in inhumane acts of trafficking, forceful prostitution with minors when on contract in Bosnia (Dowbenko, 2002).

Deontological implications of the ethical problem A quick glance into the background of PMCs operating within the US indicates that these companies generate billions in their annual revenues; for example, Dyncorp’s revenues are about 3 billion yet it is a medium-sized company in this field (Dyncorp, 2012). Governments rely on the protection and military services offered by these firms when the country’s army has been deployed to attend to other pressing matters (Dyncorp, 2012). The running of these companies remains independent from the government because the stakeholders are private entities.

The deontological implications of the ethical problem posed by Dyncorp revolve around the duty of the company to their clients and the people living within the affected region. Dyncorp’s duty to the government involved the company ensuring that the curtailing of drug production through the destruction of drug plantations (Dowbenko, 2007). Nonetheless, the company had a moral obligation to the inhabitants of the region to differentiate the drug plantations from the crop plantations. Disregarding their duty to the inhabitants of the region proves to be unethical and is an indication of poor corporate social responsibility policies (Lawson, 2001).

Dyncorp disregarded the safety of human life led to the indiscriminate application of herbicides within the region, therefore, defying different deontological principles (Dowbenko, 2002). The company’s incompetent actions fail to meet the standard set by the categorical imperative principle posited by Immanuel Kant (Stanford, 2007). The categorical imperative advances that an action or decision made ought to be universal in nature, meaning, it can be applied in similar circumstances because it qualifies as a universal rule or law.

Negligent behavior is also wrong because it pays little regard to the concept of duty or moral obligation, which is the core concept of deontology ethics (Stanford, 2007). In addition, the company’s involvement in inhumane acts against underage children, in Bosnia, shows failure of the company to adhere to their moral obligations to their duties. a) Resolution of the problem; b)do you agree with the resolutions; c) Whether the problem was resolved consistent with the principles of deontological ethics Resolution of the problem involved efforts made by both the government and the company’s managerial board.

The government imposed limitations on the jurisdiction of Dyncorp when serving in the capacity of hired soldiers when operating in foreign lands. The government also cautioned company officials to avoid negligent behavior when carrying out their services (Dowbenko, 2002). The US Department of Defense in 2005 drafted a proposal, which prohibited the involvement of military contractors in human trafficking, forced labor and prostitution (Dowbenko,