of Ethics Online Collection: Undated
AAPG Constitute and Bylaws, Article VI: Code of Ethics
SECTION 1. General Principles
(a) 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.
(b) 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
(c) Each member, of whatever classification, shall be
guided by the highest standards of business ethics, perfect honor, and
professional conduct. The word "member" as used throughout this "code"
all include all classes of membership.
SECTION 2. Relation of members to the Public
(a) A member will avoid and discourage sensation, exaggerated
and unwarranted statements with regard to professional matters that might
induce participation in unsound enterprises.
(b) A member will no knowingly permit the publication
of his reports or maps for any unsound or illegitimate undertaking.
(c) 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.
(d) A member shall may publish dignified business, professional,
or announcement cards, but shall not advertise his work or accomplishments
id a self-laudatory or unduly conspicuous manner.
(e) A member shall not issue a false statement or false
information even though directed to do so by an employer or client.
SECTION 3. Relation of Members to Employer and Client
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) A member will offer to disclose to his prospective
employer or client the existence of any oil, gas, or other mineral interest
which he holds, either directly or indirectly, having a pertinent bearing
on such employment.
(d) 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.
(e) A member retained by one client will not accept,
without client's consent, and engagement by another if the interest of
the two is in any manner conflicting.
(f) 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.
(g) A member will not divulge information given to him
in confidence.
(h) 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.
(i) A member will not accept a concealed fee for referring
a client or employer to a specialist or for recommending geological services
other than his own.
SECTION 4. Relation of Members to One Another
(a) A member will not falsely or maliciously attempt
to injure the reputation or business of another.
(b) A member will freely give credIt for work dine 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.
(c) A member will not use the advantages of salaried
employment to compete unfairly with another member of his profession.
(d) A member will endeavor to cooperate with others
in the profession and will encourage the ethical dissemination of geological
knowledge.
(e) A member having knowledge of unethical practices
of another member will avoid, as far as possible, associations with that
member in professional work.
SECTION 5. Duty to the Association
(a) A member of the Association 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.
(b) It shall be the duty and professional responsibility
of every member to uphold these standards of ethics in precept and by
example, but also, where necessary, to encourage by council and advise
to other members, their adherence to such standards.
(c) By applying for or continuing membership in the
Association, every member agrees to uphold the ethical standard set out
in this code of ethics.
SECTION 6. Discipline for Violation of Standards
Any member violating any if the applicable standards prescribed in this
article shall be subject to discipline as approved by the Bylaws.
