PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND PRACTICES - COLUMN 158
Topical Index-Table of Contents to the Professional Ethics and Practices Columns
A topically based Index-Table of Contents, “pe&p index.xls” cov ering columns, articles, and letters to the editor that have been referred to in the PE&P columns in Excel format is on the AIPG web site in the Ethics section. This Index-Table of Contents is updated as each issue of the TPG is published. You can use it to find those items addressing a particular area of concern. Suggestions for improvements should be sent to David Abbott,
dmageol@msn.com
Compiled by David M. Abbott, Jr., CPG-04570, 5055 Tamarac Street, Denver, CO 80238, 303-394-0321, fax 303-394-0543,
dmageol@msn.com
Making an Ethics
Complaint—Don’t Assume Someone Knows
“Don’t Assume Someone Knows” was a topic title in PE&P column 1, Nov approached at an annual meeting by a member who told me about a situation several years previously in which a geolo- gist had been the subject of publicity sug- gesting possible unprofessional practice. The member hadn’t brought the matter to the attention of the Institute or the Ethics Committee Chairman at the time, assuming we knew. We didn’t. We learn about potentially problematic situations when someone lets us know.
I’d like to commend Bob Fousek, MEM-616, for recently contacting AIPG when he reviewed a report signed by geologist who used the abbreviation “CPG.” Fousek searched AIPG’s online membership directory and didn’t find a listing for the geologist in question. Vickie Hill, AIPG’s Membership Services Manager, confirmed that the geologist was not and had not been a member. However, some state licensing boards allow their licensees to use the Certified Professional Geologist title. Virginia is one of these states and the geolo- gist in question is currently licensed in Virginia. While that finding closed the matter, Fousek’s willingness to ask ques- tions is important. Do likewise.
Bill Stone’s Hydrothink Column: But I Didn’t Say That!
Bill Stone’s Hydrothink column, “But I didn’t say that!,” in the Jan/Feb/ Mar 2016 TPG contains an important message—is your work being correct- ly quoted by those citing your work? Admittedly, we probably don’t learn about most citations of our work, but periodically we do. It’s nice to be quoted
32 TPG
Apr.May.Jun 2016
(or summarized) correctly. When that isn’t the case, what should you do? While the answer obviously depends on the specific circumstances, such mischarac- terizations should not be ignored when they are brought to your attention.
For example, if your report is being used to improperly promote a property, protection of your professional reputa- tion dictates that you bring the misuse to the attention not only of the party misus- ing your report but also those to whom the misuse has been distributed (to the degree you can) and to relevant regula- tory agencies. When I was working as a geologist for the SEC, I was contacted by a geologist whose report had been altered in order to promote a drilling venture. The promotion was fraudulent. But because the geologist reported the problem, he became the SEC’s witness and not the potential target of an investi- gation. Stone’s column provides another example. I’d appreciate receiving other examples of report misuse and what was done about it.
The note attached to Bill Stone’s Hydrothink column, Jan/Feb/Mar 2016 TPG informing readers of Stone’s pass- ing in January was a shock. Unexpected. I enjoyed reading Stone’s columns and periodically cited them in this column. I’ll miss future columns.
Certification Sponsor by Retired/Non-practicing Members
Peter Dohms, CPG-7141, wrote asking about his ability as a “retired/ non-practicing” CPG to sponsor appli- cants for AIPG certification. I didn’t see any problem with sponsorship, par- ticularly of an applicant one has known for years. However, I also forwarded Dohms’ question to Larry Austin, CPG-5181, Chairman of the National Screening Committee. Austin retired a year or so ago but remains active with the
Screening Committee and other AIPG activities. Austin has no problem with certification sponsorship by a “retired/ non-practicing” CPG. Austin remarked, “AIPG needs the wisdom that comes with election to our equivalent of the Patrol.”
The issue of sponsoring someone who doesn’t know a lot of CPGs was also raised. Austin prepared guidelines for this situation 2-3 years ago that can be obtained from Vickie Hill, Membership Services Manager at AIPG HQ, vlh@
aipg.org. The recommended procedure includes interviewing the applicant along with reviewing one or more of the applicant’s reports that reflect how the applicant addressed a challenging geo- logic or professional problem. Obtaining and checking with the applicant’s profes- sional references with phone calls should also be done. Austin notes, “Remember, though, that an applicant is likely to give you only references that he/she believes will be supportive. Therefore, read care- fully between the lines with these as some will address shortcomings as well though not particularly openly. And if you do sponsor an applicant after going through this process, please include a note to that effect on the sponsorship form as your support will be given appropriately more weight as a result of it.” If you can identify other profession- als that know the applicant, check with them as well.
Should Scientific Papers Be Available for Free?
Charles Dimmick, CPG-3886, sent me an interesting article, Researcher illegally shares millions of science papers free online to spread knowl- edge, that discusses the issue of the illegality of publishers charging for cop- ies of scientific articles. The article dis- cusses the case presented by Alexandra
www.aipg.org
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