You are an Engineering Manager in charge of developing help-desk instructions for a new software system that uses a database of health records from all the hospitals, clinics, and physicians in your state. These records include a large amount of personal information on patients, and are private and confidential. Part of your responsibility is to ensure that confidentiality is maintained by all who use the system while preventing access to those who may wish to misuse the data.
Yesterday, you learned a disturbing fact. While observing the typical daily operation of the help-desk staff in resolving user’s questions, you recognized the name of one of the clients displayed on the screen as your cousin’s fiancé. The data indicated that he has tested positive for HIV and has received counseling about HIV and AIDS from a local clinic. You have a very close relationship with your cousin, and you are certain that she is unaware that her intended spouse has tested positive for HIV. The marriage is only a few weeks away.
What is the right thing to do? Do you reveal this information to your cousin, keep it to yourself or is there a third option?
A) Justify your action using Act Utilitarianism and virtue ethics.
B) What 2 to 4 clause(s) from any code of ethics would you use to justify your decision? Explain how they apply to this case.