S.C. Code Regs. 131-14 - Code of Ethics for Professional Geologists and Geologists-in-Training

(A) General Obligations.

(1) Registrants shall be guided by the highest standards of person integrity and professional conduct.

(2) Registrants shall pursue honesty, integrity, loyalty, fairness, impartiality, candor, fidelity to trust, inviolability of confidence, and honorable conduct as a way of life.

(B) Obligations to the Public.

(1) Registrants shall uphold the public health, safety, and welfare in the performance of professional services, and avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

(2) Registrants shall observe and comply with the requirements and intent of all applicable laws, codes, and regulations.

(3) Registrants shall not knowingly participate in any illegal activity, or knowingly permit the publication of his or her reports, maps, or other documents for illegal purpose.

(4) Registrants shall neither offer nor make any illegal payment, gift, or other valuable consideration to a public official for the purpose of influencing a decision by such official; nor shall a registrant accept any payment, gift, or other valuable consideration which would appear to influence a decision made on behalf of the public by the registrant acting in a position of public trust.

(5) Registrants who are aware of decisions or actions by an employer, client, or colleague which violates any law or regulation, the registrant shall advise against such action, and when such violation appears to materially affect the public health, safety, or welfare, shall advise the appropriate public officials, including but not limited to, the Board of Registration, responsible for the enforcement of such law or regulation.

(6) Registrants shall be accurate, truthful, and candid in all communications with the public.

(7) Registrants shall not knowingly engage in false or deceptive advertising, or make false, misleading, or deceptive representations or claims in regard to the profession of geology or which concern his or her own professional qualifications or abilities or those of other professional geologists.

(8) Registrants shall not issue false statements or false information which the registrant knows to be false or misleading, even though directed to do so by an employer or client.

(9) Registrants shall avoid making sensational, exaggerated, and unwarranted statements that may mislead or deceive members of the public or any public body.

(10) Registrants should participate as citizens and as professionals in public affairs.

(11) Registrants acting in a position of public trust shall exercise authority impartially, and shall not seek to use authority for personal profit or to secure any competitive advantage.

(12) Registrants should promote public awareness of the effects of geology and geological processes on the quality of life.

(C) Obligations to Employers and Clients.

(1) Registrants shall serve their employers and clients faithfully and competently within their overall professional and ethical obligations.

(2) Registrants shall disclose to a prospective employer or client the existence of any owned or controlled mineral or other interest which may, either directly or indirectly, have a pertinent bearing on such employment.

(3) Registrants having or expecting to have a beneficial interest in a property on which the registrant reports shall state in the report the fact of the existence of such interest or expected interest.

(4) Registrants employed or retained by one (1) employer or client shall not accept, without that employer's or client's written consent, an engagement by another if the interests of the two (2) are in any manner conflicting.

(5) Registrants shall not accept referral fees from any person to whom an employer or client is referred; however, nothing herein shall prohibit a registrant from being compensated by the employer or client for consultation, or for other services actually performed.

(6) Registrants shall not offer or pay referral fees to any person who refers an employer or client to the registrant; however nothing herein shall prohibit a registrant from compensating the person giving the referral for consultation, or for other services actually performed.

(7) Registrants should protect, to the fullest extent possible, the interest of his employer or client to a standard that is consistent with public health, safety, and welfare and the registrant's legal, professional, and ethical obligations.

(8) Registrants shall not use, directly or indirectly, any confidential information obtained from or in the course of performing services for an employer or client in any way which is adverse or detrimental to the interests of the employer or client, except with the prior consent of the employer or client or when disclosure is required by law.

(9) Registrants who have made an investigation for an employer or client shall not seek to profit economically from the information gained without written permission of the employer or client, unless it is clear that there can no longer be a conflict of interest with the original employer or client.

(10) Registrants shall not use his or her employer's or client's resources for private gain without the prior knowledge and consent of his or her employer or client.

(11) Registrants shall serve their employers and clients competently.

(12) Registrants shall perform professional services or issue professional advice which is only within the scope of the education and experience of the registrant and the registrant's professional associates, consultants, or employees, and shall advise the employer or client if any professional advice is outside of the professional geologist's personal expertise.

(13) Registrants shall not give a professional opinion or submit a report without being as thoroughly informed as might be reasonably expected, considering the purpose for which the opinion or report is requested.

(14) Registrants shall engage, or advise an 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.

(15) Registrants shall serve their employers and clients diligently and perform their services in a timely manner.

(16) Registrants who find that obligations to an employer or client conflict with professional or ethical standards shall have such objectionable conditions corrected or resign.

(D) Obligations to Professional Colleagues.

(1) Registrants shall respect the rights, interests, and contributions of their professional colleagues.

(2) Registrants shall give due credit for work done by others in the course of a professional assignment, and shall not knowingly accept credit due another.

(3) Registrants shall not plagiarize another in oral and written communications, or use materials prepared by others without appropriate attribution.

(E) Obligations to the Profession.

(1) Registrants shall continually strive to improve the profession of geology so that it may be of ever increasing benefit to society.

(2) Registrants shall strive to improve their professional knowledge and skills.

(3) Registrants shall cooperate with others in the profession and encourage the dissemination of geological knowledge.

(4) Registrants shall work toward the improvement of standards of geological education, research, training, and practice.

(5) Registrants shall uphold these standards by precept and example and also encourage by counsel and advice to other registrants, their adherence to such standards.

(6) Registrants who have knowledge of a violation of these rules by another registrant shall notify the Board of such violation.

Notes

S.C. Code Regs. 131-14

Added by State Register Volume 23, Issue No. 6, eff June 25, 1999; State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, eff 6/27/2014.