S.C. Code Regs. § § 108-8

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 108-8 - Code of Ethics

A. Relation of Professional to the Public

1. A licensee shall avoid and discourage sensational, exaggerated, and/or unwarranted statements that might induce participation in unsound enterprises.

2. A licensee shall not give professional opinion or make a recommendation without being as thoroughly informed as might reasonably be expected considering the purpose for which the opinion or recommendation is desired, and the degree of completeness of information upon which the opinion is based should be made clear.

3. A licensee shall not issue a false statement or false information even though directed to do so by employer or client.

B. Relation of Professional to Employer and Client

1. A licensee shall protect, to the fullest extent possible, the interest of his/her employer or client insofar as such interest is consistent with the law and professional obligations and ethics.

2. A licensee who finds that obligations to their employer or client conflict with their professional obligation or ethics should work to have such objectionable conditions corrected.

3. A licensee shall not use, directly or indirectly, an employer's or client's information in any way that would violate the confidence of the employer or client.

4. A licensee retained by one client shall not accept, without the client's written consent, an engagement by another if the interests of the two are in any manner conflicting.

5. A licensee who has made an investigation for any employer or client shall not seek to profit economically from the information gained, unless written permission to do so is granted or until it is clear that there can no longer be a conflict of interest with the original employer or client.

6. A licensee shall not divulge information given in confidence.

7. A licensee shall engage, or advise employer or client to engage, and cooperate with other experts and specialists.

8. A licensee protects the interests of a client by recommending only products and services that are in the best interest of the client and public.

9. A licensee protects his/her credibility by disclosing to clients how he/she will be compensated for providing recommendations to the client.

C. Relation of Professionals to Each Other

1. A licensee shall not falsely or maliciously attempt to injure the reputation of another.

2. A licensee shall freely give credit for work done by others, to whom the credit is due, and shall refrain from plagiarism of oral and written communications and shall not knowingly accept credit rightfully due another person.

3. A licensee shall not use the advantage of public employment (i.e., university, government) to compete unfairly with other licensed or certified professions.

4. A licensee shall endeavor to cooperate with others in the profession and encourage the ethical dissemination of technical knowledge.

D. Duty to the Profession

1. A licensee shall aid in exclusion from licensure those who have not followed this Code of Ethics or who do not have the required education and experience.

2. A licensee shall uphold this Code of Ethics by precept and example and encourage, by counsel and advice, other licensees to do the same.

3. A licensee having positive knowledge of deviation from this Code by another licensee shall bring such deviation to the attention of the council.

E. Any violation of this Code of Ethics shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action.

S.C. Code Regs. § 108-8

Added by State Register Volume 36, Issue No. 6, eff June 22, 2012.