AAPG Ethics
AAPG has long touted its dedication to inspiring professional conduct. Included in the Association’s mission statement is the purpose “to inspire and maintain a high standard of professional conduct on the part of its members.” The Code of Ethics spells this out with general principles and more specific directions, such as, “Members shall not falsely or maliciously attempt to injure the reputation or business of others.”
(The Code of Ethics can be found here.)
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AAPG has long touted its dedication to inspiring professional conduct. Included in the Association’s mission statement is the purpose “to inspire and maintain a high standard of professional conduct on the part of its members.” The Code of Ethics spells this out with general principles and more specific directions, such as, “Members shall not falsely or maliciously attempt to injure the reputation or business of others.”
(The Code of Ethics can be found here.)
For most of my more than 30 years of membership, the Code of Ethics seemed to serve AAPG and its members well. More recently, however, it seems that the deep polarization in national politics and the unseemly discourse it inspires in the United States has found its way into AAPG. The resulting effect is that some members appear to be acting as if spreading falsehoods and unsubstantiated assertions is acceptable.
When what I perceived as violations of the AAPG Code of Ethics affected me as AAPG president and as a Member, I sought relief through the confidential ethics complaint process. My complaints relate to falsehoods spread via LinkedIn and in AAPG Town Hall meetings, defamation in email correspondence among AAPG members, and improper dissemination of confidential AAPG documents prior to Executive Committee approval. After extremely lengthy delays, I was disappointed to finally be informed that the Ethics Committee judged these behaviors clearly unprofessional but not a breach of the Code of Ethics.
My experience amply demonstrates that reforms are needed in the Code and in the process (see existing process graphic). First, the Code was designed prior to the Internet where bad actors can spread *&#! with a few keystrokes. Second, it relies upon overtaxed volunteers in an environment fraught with fear of costly litigation.
I trust that as we work to reimagine AAPG for the future, the Code of Ethics and its process will be on the improvement list. Until then, I call upon all good members of AAPG to exert influence on their circle of colleagues to always uphold the honorable behaviors that the mission statement and Code were originally set up to inspire.
Gretchen Gillis
2021-2022 AAPG President