Professional Ethics and Conduct Flashcards

A colleague asks you to sign off on work you did not review. What is the ethical response?

Answer: Refuse and explain you cannot certify work you haven't reviewed

Signing off on unreviewed work misrepresents your role and violates professional integrity.

Which principle requires professionals to place clients' interests above their own personal gain?

Answer: Fiduciary duty

A fiduciary duty obligates a professional to act in the client's best interest, not their own.

An employee discovers their employer is violating environmental regulations. The most ethical first step is to:

Answer: Report the violation internally through proper channels

Internal reporting is typically the appropriate first step before escalating to external authorities.

What does 'due diligence' mean in a professional ethics context?

Answer: Taking reasonable care to investigate and verify information before acting

Due diligence means conducting thorough investigation and verification to avoid negligent decisions.

A professional receives a gift from a vendor whose contract they manage. This situation most likely creates a:

Answer: Conflict of interest

Receiving gifts from vendors can compromise objectivity and create a conflict of interest.

Which of the following best defines 'professional competence'?

Answer: Possessing and maintaining the skills and knowledge needed to perform your duties adequately

Professional competence requires continually maintaining the skills needed for your specific responsibilities.

When is it appropriate for a professional to break client confidentiality?

Answer: When the client's information could prevent serious harm to others

Confidentiality may be broken to prevent serious, imminent harm to the client or others.