Practice Guidelines
Conflict of Interest
Conflict of interest may occur in situations when the professional judgment of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist might be compromised by personal and/or financial gain. This compromise of judgment, or the appearance of compromised judgment may have a direct impact on professional activities such as research, clinical service, consultation, education and administration.
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists should avoid activities that can be considered conflict of interests. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists must carefully evaluate gifts, benefits and situations that could conceivably cause or imply the presence of a conflict of interest.
Care needs to be taken in accepting or giving gifts or benefits. It would be inappropriate to give or accept a gift that could be construed as intended to compensate referrals received or motivate new referrals.
Licensees should not:
- Accept cash gifts
- Participate in sponsored events that have the potential to bias professional judgment or practice
- Purchase equipment from or enter into contract negotiations with organizations in which one has a financial interest
- Practice self-referral. In other words, individuals working in one professional setting should not refer clients exclusively to themselves in another professional setting
