ethics

["Les Slaback, Health Physics" <SLABACK@micf.nist.gov>]

In my AIHA newsletter (just received) is an exchange of letters regarding
the suspension of ethics enforcement by the AIHA.  Part of the AIHA response
to the letter commenting on this suspension states "...Few professional
societies other than those whose members operate under state licensing
actually carry out enforcement of their ethics code, primarily because
enforcement is very expensive.  Some societies have actually been forced to
raise dues substantially to cover legal expenses involved in their enforcement
attempts. ....  In AIHA's experience, ethics enforcement by the association
itself is costly and results have been unsatisfactory or inconclusive.
Pusuant to its fiscal responsibility to the membership, the AIHA BOD has
temporarily suspended actual enforcement while it studies the many
perspectives of the issue."

In some ways the impracticality of enforcement simplifies the issue.
You can write the standard to simply reflect the common expectation of
behavior, and presume self enforcement (ritual suicide?) on the part of
transgressors.

SLABACK@MICF.NIST.GOV
   ...a little risk, like a bit of spice, adds flavor to life