An Examination of the Corporate and Individual Ethical Dilemmas Faced by a Medical Defense Contractor

Abstract : This study examines the ethical pressures and dilemmas faced by a medical contractor. Two fictional retired military officers, Plato and Glaucoma (known for his ethical short-sightedness) work through a variety of ethical problems, ranging from gross acts of impropriety to seemingly minor violations of ethics. Extensive use of conversation is used between these two characters to facilitate the free play of ideas and to make the discussion interesting. The conclusions reached are that consequentialism and compartmentalization work contrary to national interests in defense contracting. Additionally, other situations reveal that following the behavior set by others may lead to a downward spiral of ethical conduct. Also, the notion that one must draw a self- defined line and not cross it, even though the circumstances appear to be trivial, is discussed.