CODE OF ETHICS
A. Principles and purposes:
Preamble: These principles are intended to aid Fellows and members of
the College individually and collectively to maintain high level of
ethical conduct. These are not laws but standards by which a Fellow or a
member may determine the propriety of his/her conduct, relationship with
colleagues, with members of allied professions, with the public, and
with all persons in which a professional relationship has been
established. The principal purpose of the College is the generation and
dissemination of knowledge concerning all aspects of persons engaged in
exercise with full respect for the dignity of people.
Section 1: members should strive continuously to
improve knowledge and skill and make available to their colleagues and
the public the benefits of their professional expertise.
Section 2: members should maintain high professional
and scientific standards and should not voluntarily collaborate
professionally with anyone who violates this principle.
Section 3: The College, and its members, should safeguard the public and
itself against members who are deficient in ethical conduct.
Section 4: The ideals of the College imply that the responsibilities of
each Fellow or member extend not only to the individual, but also to
society with the purpose of improving both the health and well-being of
the individual and the community.
B. The statement of principles of ethical behavior
for ACSM members reads:
Members and affiliates of the
American College of
Sports Medicine are committed to the highest standards of conduct.
As advocates for athletes’ health and performance, all ACSM
members assume an obligation to train, treat and support athletes with
the highest ethical standards. Avoiding inappropriate treatment of
athletes as well as the appearance of inappropriate treatment is of the
utmost importance. I hereby affirm:
1. members should treat or train athletes with the objective of maintaining the
integrity of competition and fair play.
2. members should treat or train every athlete with the utmost care and to the
highest level of their professional competence.
3. members should acknowledge that they are aware of international doping control
standards as determined by the List of Prohibited Substances and
Methods published by the World Anti-Doping Program or by the
relevant Anti-Doping Authority.
4. members should treat athletes only as their medical conditions warrant and
will observe the rules of the appropriate anti-doping organizations
regarding use of prohibited substances or methods.
5. members should not
advise, aid, or abet any athlete to use prohibited substances or methods
of doping.
6. members should use
all means possible to deter doping by athletes.
7. members should maintain confidentiality of personal medical information and
will protect the right of the clean athlete to compete.
8. members should agree that departure from these principles of ethical behavior in
treating athletes may result in sanctions by ACSM and will
accept those sanctions as determined.
C. Maintenance of Good-standing in Regulated Professions: Any
Fellow or member required by law to be licensed, certified or otherwise
regulated by any governmental agency in order to practice his or her
profession must remain in good-standing before that agency as a
condition of continued membership in the College. Any expulsion,
suspension, probation or other sanction imposed by such governmental
agency on any Fellow or member is grounds for disciplinary action by the
College.
D. Public Disclosure of Affiliation: Other
than for commercial venture, any member or Fellow (FACSM) may disclose
his/her affiliation with the College in any context, oral or documented,
provided it is currently accurate. In doing so, no member or Fellow may
imply College endorsement of whatever is associated in context with the
disclosure, unless expressly authorized by the College. Disclosure of
affiliation in connection with a commercial venture may be made provided
the disclosure is made in a professionally dignified manner, is not
false, misleading or deceptive, and does not imply licensure for the
attainment of specialty or diploma status. Members who are currently
ACSM Certified or Registered may disclose their certification status and
Fellows may disclose their Fellow status. Because membership and
fellowship in ACSM is granted to individuals, disclosure of affiliation
and/or use of the initials ACSM are not to be made as part of a firm,
partnership or corporate name. Violation of this article may be grounds
for disciplinary action.
E. Discipline: Any Fellow or member of the
College may be disciplined or expelled for conduct which, in the opinion
of the Board of Trustees, is derogatory to the dignity of or
inconsistent with the purposes of the College. The expulsion of a Fellow
or member may be ordered upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
members of the Board of Trustees present at a regular or a special
meeting, and only after such Fellow or member has been informed of the
charges preferred against him and has been given an opportunity to
refute such charges before the Board of Trustees. Other disciplinary
action such as reprimand, probation, or censure may be recommended by
the Committee on Ethics and Professional Conduct and ordered following
the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Board of
Trustees present at a regular or special meeting or by mail ballot,
provided a quorum takes action.
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