"Sheldon Zink, a medical anthropologist at the University of Pennsylvania, is currently involved in a legal fight over her field notes from research on a patient in an artificial- heart clinical trial. The patient's widow is charging in a lawsuit against the hospital and medical personnel who conducted the study that her husband was not adequately told about its impact. The defendants want Ms. Zink's notes because she observed the patient and medical staff during the clinical trial. Ms. Zink says that if she turned over the notes, she would be violating the rights of all of those she spoke to by breaking her promise of confidentiality. She says she is willing to go to jail rather than surrender the notes. While some anthropologists praise Ms. Zink's position -- others have gone to jail in similar circumstances -- some say she has already compromised her principles. She agreed toward the end of her study to become a patient advocate for the man whose treatment she was following. Critics say that such a decision -- however well intentioned -- took her out of her role as a scholar. Should an anthropologist ever turn over confidential field notes to a court? Did Ms. Zink compromise her ability to protect her sources?" Read more and the discussion by anthropologists on this at The Chronicle of Higher Education.

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