Mr. Asset, a graduate student of Dr. Bond, has been conducting physicochemical studies on the properties of a new polymer. The research is sponsored by Chemical Industries, Inc. and it is understood by Mr. Asset and Dr. Bond that the results are proprietary, confidential, and cannot be used in Mr. Asset's thesis. Mr. Cash, the technical liaison from Chemical Industries, Inc., meets with Mr. Asset and Dr. Bond and expresses his pleasure with the outcome of the recent studies and observes that the new results are the last data required to market a new generation of fire-resistant electrical insulating material. Mr. Cash further comments that this is the product that Chemical Industries, Inc. needed to regain its market share, and the stock of Chemical Industries, Inc. would soar once investors knew of the new product. That evening at dinner with his wife and brother-in-law, an investment banker, Mr. Asset tells them about Mr. Cash's enthusiasm about their recent research results and Mr. Cash's expectations that Chemical Industries' stock would greatly increase in value as soon as the new product was announced. The next day Mr. Asset's brother-in-law advises several of his clients to purchase Chemical Industries' stock.

QUESTIONS:

1. Did Mr. Asset breach his confidentiality agreement by discussing his research results with his wife and brother-in-law?
   
   
2. Does Mr. Asset profit by the disclosure of the research results that will increase the value of the stock of Chemical Industries, Inc.?
   
   
3. Discuss a scientist's responsibility for maintaining the confidentiality of research results.
   
   The following question was added for discussion of this case at the January 2001 Clinical Research Workshop at UC San Diego:
   
   
4. Is the responsibility for confidentiality in conflict with the ideal of free and open communication? If so, then how can the conflict be managed?