DISCIPLINARY
ACTION
Each member
is obligated to cooperate with the
Association and its officers in all
matters that affect its good name and
reputation including investigation,
censure, discipline or dismissal of
members who are charged with violation
of the Association's Constitution and
Bylaws or its Code
of Ethics. A member having knowledge
of the act of another member which
in his/her opinion is in such violation
has the obligation to report the matter
to the President of the Association
giving full details.
The President
of the Association shall refer a complaint
against any member to the Chairman
of the Ethics Committee who shall notify
in writing the member against whom
the complaint has been filed [advising
him/her of the specific violation alleged
and the identity of the member or person
who initiated the complaint with a
request that a written explanation
concerning the circumstances of such
complaint be submitted within 30 days.]
After considering
the complaint and the member's explanation,
the Association's Ethics Committee
shall determine whether there is a
reasonable basis for concluding that
a possible violation occurred. If such
a basis is found, the Chairman of the
Ethics Committee shall inform the member
in writing that an investigation is
being initiated and shall inquire whether
the member elects to be bound by the
findings of the Ethics Committee or
to have a hearing before a Board of
Inquiry. In the findings of the Ethics
Committee without a hearing, this committee
will complete its investigation and
make a complete report in writing with
its recommendations to the President
within 60 days of the member's waiver
of hearing. The President shall forward
a copy of the Committee's findings
and recommendations to the member involved
and to the Board of Directors for such
action as it may deem appropriate.
In the event
that the member elects to appear at
a hearing, the President shall appoint
a Board of Inquiry to be impaneled
consisting of three senior members,
one selected by the President to be
Chairman of the Board, one by the member
charged with the complaint and the
third member selected by the first
two. The Ethics Committee shall be
responsible to the Board of Inquiry
for the presentation of all matters
pertinent to the alleged violation.
The member charged with the violation
shall be entitled to be present at
the hearing with or without counsel
and shall be given an opportunity to
be heard and to present such evidence
or testimony as may be deemed appropriate.
The hearing
shall be held at a place, time and
date to be determined by the Chairman
of the Board of Inquiry within 40 days
of the appointment of the Board. The
Board shall notify the President of
its findings and recommendations in
writing, who shall in turn mail a copy
to the member and to the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall review
the findings and recommendations of
the Ethics Committee or the Board of
Inquiry, as the case may be, and shall
determine if the record of the complaint
constitutes a finding of conduct contrary
to or in violation of the Association's
Constitution and Bylaws or its Code
of Ethics. If three quarters of the
membership of the Board of Directors
present when the matter is considered
shall so find, the Board may in its
discretion impose one or more of the
following on the member:
- A letter
from the Board to the member setting
forth its suggestions for remedying
the violation and future professional
conduct of the member.
- A letter
of censure to the member.
- Suspension
of the member's membership in the
Society for a period up to one
year.
- Expulsion
of the member from the Society.
|
