Depends entirely on the size of the company. A friend of mine had a medium-level position in sales and marketing, and he was in on all the strategy meetings, and knew everyone in the company after a few years. There was a company cafeteria where conversations could be off-guard and overheard. There was web access to many areas of research. Don't be naive.
Merck is a leading manufacturer of pharmaceuticals.
Anyway...If there are suspicions about her death, I hope the family has an independent autopsy.