Clarissa is a sales representative for a large pharmaceutical firm. While calling on one of her major clients, the purchasing director of a hospital, the client told her confidential information that a sales representative from a competing firm had passed on to him. The information completely contradicts Clarissa's firm's understanding of the competitor's business strategy, and would allow Clarissa's employer to gain many of the competitor's clients.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clarissa has received confidential information from her client, who obtained it through unethical means from a competitor. While the client may have voluntarily shared the information, Clarissa has an ethical responsibility to not use it to her advantage. The ethical dilemma here is respecting the right of competitors to keep certain information confidential. Clarissa should inform her employer of the situation without disclosing the confidential information and seek guidance on how to proceed.

Clarissa Is a Sales Representative for a Large Pharmaceutical Firm