POLICY

Code of Ethics & Conflict of Interest

NSGC operates under a body of governing documents, including a set of policies that establish guidelines and boundaries for the operations and work of the Society, its volunteer leaders and staff.  NSGC has developed a code of ethics and a number of policies addressing conflict of interest (COI) related to education, practice guidelines, volunteer involvement, commercial support and professional practice. Existing policies are reviewed by the NSGC Board of Directors at a minimum, annually with input from other key individuals involved in the area of work addressed by the policy.

NSGC Code of Ethics

A Code of Ethics is a document which attempts to clarify and guide the conduct of a professional so that the goals and values of the profession might best be served. Through the NSGC Code of Ethics, NSGC affirms the ethical responsibilities of its members. NSGC members are expected to be aware of the ethical implications of their professional actions and work to uphold and adhere to the guidelines and principles set forth in this code.

View NSGC's Code of Ethics

Conflict of Interest (COI) Resources

• NSGC COI Guiding Questions: questions to consider regarding specific employment/practice settings and/or consulting arrangements in order to help members determine whether they have a COI. 
• NSGC Genetic Counseling COI Checklist: set of questions to assist genetic counselors in assessing their own knowledge and awareness of potential COI. 
• NSGC Genetic Counseling COI Reference Sheet: resource outlining basic COI information, including the definition of COI, why COI is significant, types of COI, and education on value-added services versus inducements.
• Conflict of Interest: Aren't We All Conflicted on Some Level?: session recording from the 2017 Annual Conference that explains the importance of identifying a real or perceived conflict of interest, financial or non-financial. 

Conflict of Interest (COI) Policies

The integrity of NSGC, and the activities it undertakes, depends on the avoidance of conflicts of interest (COI), or even the appearance of such conflicts, by the individuals involved in those activities. At the same time, NSGC recognizes that its members have significant professional, business, and personal interests and relationships. Therefore NSGC has determined that the most appropriate manner in which to address actual, potential, or apparent COI is initially through liberal disclosure of any relationship or interest that might be construed as resulting in such a conflict. 

View NSGC's Conflict of Interest Policies

Ethics Consult Request

Looking for help interpreting NSGC's Code of Ethics in relation to a professional issue?  You can submit an ethics consult request (ethics inquiry review) to the NSGC Ethics Advisory Group (EAG) and receive feedback from a committee of your peers.

View NSGC's Ethics Consult Request Form