Protection of the public’s health, safety, and welfare and protecting the confidentiality of an employer’s or client’s confidential information are fundamental geoscience ethics principles. What happens when these two principles conflict? Generally, geoscience ethics codes state that public protection supersedes confidentiality. Several examples of the such conflicts are examined along with the implications of whistle blowing.
Protection of the public’s health, safety, and welfare and protecting the confidentiality of an employer’s or client’s confidential information are fundamental geoscience ethics principles. What happens when these two principles conflict? Generally, geoscience ethics codes state that public protection supersedes confidentiality. Several examples of the such conflicts are examined along with the implications of whistle blowing.