ACCOUNTING ETHICS:

Injured workers have filed numerous workers' compensation claims against your audit client. In reviewing medical exams filed in connection with these claims, you noticed that one of these former employees has a life-threating disease. This disease can be cured by surgery, but the former employee does not know about his disease or about his need for surgery.

You asked your client for permission to inform this former employee about his life-threatening condition, but your client refused. During the course of your discussion, the client told you bluntly that "we will save a small fortune if the former employee has a short life span because, frankly, we will pay out fewer workers' compensation checks."

Should you reveal information to this former employee concerning his life-threatening disease?