There are times, even in science (where nominally the entire effort is designed to elucidate nature’s truth), where there is a need for the keeping of secrets. This is especially true where the long term interests of the institution may be at risk. It is also without a doubt true under the many circumstances where it is both ethical and obligated to protect an individual’s privacy.
The most potentially awkward situations involve those times when the two needs (institutional welfare and individual privacy) intersect. Example: when you know something that will affect the future of another colleague, or the converse when you know something about the future of a colleague that might affect the institution.
One area of ethics research that I think should be futher studied is this nexus between the secrecy obligations of the institution and those of the individual. Secrecy as distinct from privacy.
Jim
Discoverers and Discoveries 