ASHA-IIE-CONFLICTS — ASHA Issues in Ethics: Conflicts of Professional Interest (2025)
What does ASHA-IIE-CONFLICTS say?
Conflicts of interest occur when external factors may influence professional judgment. Key guidance: (1) It is not necessary for compromise to have occurred — the appearance of potential compromise is sufficient to constitute a conflict. (2) If conflicts cannot be avoided, proper disclosure and management is required. (3) Financial relationships (e.g., receiving compensation from product manufacturers) must be disclosed when recommending products. (4) Referral arrangements that may benefit the referring clinician financially must be transparent. (5) Dual roles (e.g., serving as both clinician and expert witness for the same client) create inherent conflicts. (6) Research conflicts include financial interest in study outcomes or products being evaluated. (7) Employment conflicts arise when employer policies conflict with professional ethical obligations. (8) Steps to manage conflicts: identify the conflict, disclose to affected parties, implement safeguards, document actions taken, seek consultation when needed. Relevant Code sections: Principle I Rule S (avoid conflicts of interest or appearance thereof); Principle III Rules A, D (honesty, no fraudulent conduct); Principle IV Rules A, B (collegial relationships, independent judgment).
Official source: read the full text in the ASHA Code of Ethics (2023) (official document).