Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You give Adam Melissa's home information and wish him luck.
You think to yourself, "I understand the reasons for the confidentiality
requirements, but this is different. Melissa and Adam are interested in one
another. She will be delighted to receive surprise flowers on her birthday.
I would be doing them both a favor by giving Adam her address."
Adam thanks you and phones a florist to arrange for a home delivery on
Friday.
On Monday, you come to work to discover that Melissa is furious. She was
not ready to give Adam her home address and phone number, and
she is very upset that he found it out somehow. You learn that Adam phoned
her several times on the weekend and left messages on her answering machine
when she didn't answer. This upset her even more.
Melissa doesn't know how Adam learned her address, but you know that
if she ever finds out, she will report you to your supervisor and you will
be in big trouble.
You really regret that you ever gave out the information. Now you wonder
whether you should confess and get it out in the open or cross your fingers
and hope that Adam doesn't tell her what happened. Either way, it doesn't
sound like much fun.
"You always have to observe confidentiality requirements in terms of the
job," says Robert Feehan. He is a database administrator. "Different jobs
give you access to different types of information. For instance, if you are
in a hospital, you could have access to people's health records."