Code of Conduct
Definition
A written set of professional standards that members of a discipline or accredited body are required to follow, covering obligations to the court, to clients, to colleagues, and to the integrity of the science.
- Form
- Written professional standards document
- Issued by
- Discipline or accrediting body
- Covers
- Duties to court, clients, colleagues, and scientific integrity
Common questions
What happens when a forensic practitioner breaches their code of conduct?+
Accrediting bodies can investigate, issue a formal warning, suspend, or revoke membership or certification, and a documented breach can be raised by opposing counsel to challenge the practitioner's credibility or the admissibility of their evidence in a later case.
How does a code of conduct differ from a laboratory's technical SOPs?+
SOPs govern how a specific test or procedure is performed technically, while a code of conduct governs the practitioner's professional behaviour and ethical obligations, such as impartiality and disclosure, which apply across every case regardless of the technique used.
Related terms
- Conflict of Interest
- A situation in which a person's private interests, financial, personal, or professional, could improperly affect their exercise of a duty to an...
- Duty to the Court
- The obligation of expert witnesses in UK proceedings (and, to varying degrees, in other jurisdictions) to assist the court with objective, unbiased...
- Expert Witness
- A person whose specialised knowledge is accepted by a court and who gives opinion evidence, not just factual evidence. Forensic auditors frequently...
- Impartiality
- The obligation of a forensic expert to present findings honestly regardless of which party benefits. Impartiality does not mean ignoring the context...
- Objectivity
- The professional duty to form conclusions based on evidence alone, without allowing the client's preferred outcome, personal relationships, or financial incentives to...