|
Preamble
The Georgia Association of Professional Agricultural
Consultants has established the following code to define the professional
conduct and ethics binding on its members. A Member recognizes that
this Code of Ethics signifies a voluntary assumption of the obligation
of self-discipline above and beyond the requirements of the law and will
strive to uphold the honor and maintain the dignity of the profession.
Article I. General Principles
1. The privilege of professional practice
imposes obligations of morality and responsibility as well as professional
knowledge.
2. Each Member agrees to be guided by the
highest standards of personal honor and professional conduct.
Article II. Relation of
Professional to the Public
1. A Member shall avoid and discourage sensational,
exaggerated, and/or unwarranted statements that might induce participating
in unsound enterprises.
2. A Member shall not knowingly permit
the publication of reports or other documents for any unsound or illegitimate undertaking.
3. A Member shall not give professional
opinion or make a recommendation without being as thoroughly informed as
might reasonable be
expected considering the purpose for which the opinion or recommendation
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,
announcement cards, but shall not advertise work or accomplishments in a
self-laudatory, exaggerated, or unduly conspicuous manner.
5. A Member shall not issue a false statement
or false information even though directed to do so by a client.
Article III. Relation of
Professional to Employer and Client
1. A Member shall protect, to the fullest
extent possible, the client's interest insofar as such interest is consistent
with the law and the Member's professional
obligations.
2. A Member who finds that obligations
to a client conflict with his/her professional obligation or the law should
have such objectionable conditions
corrected or resign.
3. A Member shall not use, directly or
indirectly, any client's information in any way which would violate the
confidence of the client.
4. A Member shall not share or sell confidential
data in an inappropriate manner.
5. A Member shall not divulge information
received in confidence.
6. A Member shall engage, or advise clients
to engage, and cooperate with experts and specialists whenever the client's interests would
be best served by such service.
7. A Member shall act fairly and justly
toward vendors and contractors operating within a Member's area of business,
and shall advise clients
to select products and services on the basis of merit and value to the
client. Members shall not knowingly favor any
one product or vendor, except on the basis of advantage to the client.
Article IV. Relation of
Professionals to Each Other
1. A Member shall not attempt to injure
the reputation of another.
2. A Member shall freely give credit for
work done by others to whom the credit is due and shall refrain from plagiarism in oral and written
communications, and not knowingly accept credit rightfully due another
person.
3. A Member shall not use the advantages
of state or federal employment to compete unfairly with another Member
of the profession.
4. A Member shall endeavor to cooperate
with others in the profession and encourage the ethical dissemination of
technical knowledge.
Article V. Duty to the
Profession
1. A Member shall uphold this Code of Ethics
by precept and example and encourage, by counsel and advice, other Members to do the same.
2. A Member having positive knowledge of
deviation from this Code of Ethics and By-laws by another Member may bring such deviation
to the
attention of the appropriate official of the GAPAC.
ADOPTED: February 26, 1999
|
