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Code of Ethics

ILLINOIS GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
CODE OF ETHICS


ARTICLE I – GENERAL PRINCIPLES

  1.  Geology is a profession, and the privilege of professional practice requires professional morality and professional responsibility, as well as professional knowledge, on the part of each practitioner.
  2. Each member shall be guided by the highest standards of  business ethics, personal honor, and professional conduct.
  3. Honesty, integrity, loyalty, fairness, impartiality, candor, fidelity to trust and inviolability of confidence are incumbent upon every member. not for submissive observance, but as a set of dynamic principles to guide a way of life.

ARTICLE II – RELATION OF MEMBERS
TO THE PUBLIC

  1. A member will avoid and discourage sensational, exaggerated, and unwarranted statements with regard to professional matters that might induce participation in unsound enterprises.
  2. A member will not knowingly permit the publication of his reports or maps for any unsound or illegitimate undertaking.
  3. A member will not give a professional opinion, make a report, or give legal testimony without being as thoroughly informed as might reasonably be expected considering the purpose for which the opinion, report, or testimony is desired, and the degree of completeness of information upon which it is based should be made clear.
  4. A member may publish dignified business, professional, or announcement cards, but shall not advertise his works or accomplishments in a self-laudatory or unduly conspicuous manners.
  5. A member shall not issue a false statement or false information even though directed to do so by employer or client.

 

ARTICLE III – RELATION OF MEMBERS
TO EMPLOYER AND CLIENT

  1. A member shall protect, to the fullest extent possible, the interest of his employer or client so far as is consistent with the public welfare and his professional obligations and ethics.
  2. A member who finds that his obligations to his employer or client conflict with his professional obligations or ethics should have such objectionable conditions corrected or resign.
  3.  A member will offer to disclose to his prospective employer or client the existence of any mineral interest which he holds, either directly or indirectly, having a pertinent bearing on such employment.
  4. A member will not use, directly or indirectly, any employer’s or client’s confidential information in any way which is competitive, adverse, or detrimental to the interest of employer or client.
  5. A member retained by one client will not accept, without client’s consent, an engagement by another if the interests of the two are in any manner conflicting.
  6. A member who has made an investigation for any employer or client will not seek to profit economically from the information gained, unless permission to do so is granted, or until it is clear that there can no longer be conflict of interest with original employer or client.
  7. A member will not divulge information given him in confidence.
  8. A member will engage, or advise his employer or client to engage, and cooperate with, other experts and specialists whenever the employer’s or client’s interests would be best served by such service.
  9. A member shall not accept a concealed fee for referring a client or employer to a specialist or for recommending geological services other than his own.

ARTICLE IV – RELATION OF MEMBERS
TO EACH OTHER

  1. A member will not falsely or maliciously attempt to injure the reputation or business of another.
  2. A member will freely give credit for work done by others to whom the credit is due and will refrain from plagiarism in oral and written communications, and not knowingly accept credit rightfully due another geologist.
  3. A member will not use the advantages of salaried employment to compete unfairly with another member of his profession.
  4. A member will endeavor to cooperate with others in the profession and will encourage the ethical dissemination of geological knowledge.
  5. A member having knowledge of unethical practices of another member, will avoid, as far as possible, association with that member in professional work.

ARTICLE V – DUTY TO THE SOCIETY

  1. A member of the Society will aid in preventing the election to membership of those who do not follow these standards of ethics or who do not have the required education and experience.
  2. It shall be the duty and professional responsibility of every member not only to uphold these standards of ethics in precept and by example, but also, where necessary, to encourage by counsel and advice to other members, their adherence to such standards.
  3. By applying for or continuing membership in the Society, every member agrees to uphold the ethical standards set out in the Code of Ethics.