The relatives of a man recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are suing a company that sells drinks in aluminum cans, claiming damages. They say that the man consumed one to two of these drinks per day and that the cans contained no warning that the aluminum from the can could be absorbed into the drink and cause Alzheimer’s. They call an expert witness, who states, “There are numerous studies in the medical literature showing an increased level of aluminum in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s. These aluminum deposits are in the precise area of the brain affected by the disease. There is a clear link between the concentration of these aluminum deposits and the ‘Alzheimer’s Severity Index,’ which measures the seriousness of this terrible disease.” You are called as an expert witness for the drinks manufacturer.

a) What would you say to the court in response to the statement of the other expert witness?

b) In what way is your testimony consistent with the ASA guidelines on ethics in Appendix C?

c) How do these ASA guidelines apply to the testimony of the expert witness for the other side?