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Chapter 14
Confidentiality
14.1 Confidentiality
All information concerning ethical complaints made against
ITAA members shall be treated in a strictly confidential manner by ITAA Ethics
Committee members, ITAA staff persons, and ITAA members. Ensuring that
confidentiality is maintained is important in order to protect the rights of
the individual members who are the subject of complaints, and to protect ITAA
from charges of improper disclosure of information. Under the terms of these
procedures, all information regarding complaints shall be treated in a strict,
confidential manner. Ethics case information is not to be faxed or sent by any
electronic means unless the sender has ensured that only the recipient will see
it.
14.2 Breaches of Confidentiality
The Ethics Committee may take action if either party alleges
a breach of confidentiality by:-
- Sending letters of warning, or
- Terminating proceedings.
If the Ethics Committee determines that a breach of
confidentiality has occurred it may demand that all confidential material must
be immediately removed from any person to whom the material was given and
returned to the ITAA office.
14.3 Staff.
Secretaries and paid volunteer staff who received
information about complaints should be instructed on the confidential nature of
the information.
14.4 Correspondence
Correspondence concerning ethical complaints received by
ITAA staff should be mailed as "personal and confidential" to the ITAA Ethics
Committee chairpersons. It should not be faxed or emailed, unless the sender
has ensured that only the recipient will see it.
14.5 Discussion of Complaints
Any necessary discussion of cases by Ethics Committee
officers, staff or members should take place where conversations cannot be
inadvertently overheard by other member of an office, or members of the
public.
14.6 Confidentiality Exceptions
All information obtained by the Ethics Committee, including
any investigation subcommittee, and all proceedings of the Ethics Committee,
shall be confidential except to obtain evidence when participants may disclose
that a complaint is under way. The participants should provide the least amount
of information and not disclose any identification of the parties involved.
14.7 Publication of Sanctions
Whenever the Ethics Committee orders publication of
sanctions such publication shall be an exception to the rule of confidentiality
stated above.
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