Code of Ethics
Commitment to ethical professional conduct is expected of every HL7 participant, including members, non-members, and employees or contractors of HL7 or its management organization.
Participants are expected to endorse and uphold the following precepts:
- Only HL7 business will be conducted at HL7 meetings. No recruiting, commercial or marketing pitches, presentations or distributed materials will be shared except by permission of HL7 management or as provided under the event sponsorship agreement. Private, non-public meetings or functions should not be conducted during HL7 meetings and event times.
- All HL7 participants shall comply with the applicable laws and regulations applying to non-profit organizations, the HL7 Bylaws and Governance Operations Manual adopted by the Executive Committee and the membership, as well as applicable trademark and copyright laws and the HL7 Anti-Trust Policy.
- HL7 participants will promote, acknowledge, and support proper and authorized use of HL7 trademarks. By the same token, HL7 participants will not support or condone improper or unauthorized use of the standard.
- HL7 participants who contribute knowledge capital to further the development of the standard agree to conform to the HL7 IP Policy. At the same time, members will respect known, existing confidentiality agreements where applicable.
- HL7 participants will not participate in marketing activities for other organizations or collaborations while representing HL7 at industry conferences or meetings involving other standards development organizations.
- HL7 participants will not endorse or disparage any member's products or services or participate in activities which give the appearance of conflict of interest between HL7 and the member's organization while representing or participating with HL7.
- HL7 participants will not misrepresent use of the HL7 standard in their products, services or organization or in others.
In addition, members of the HL7 Board of Directors, employees, and contractors of HL7 and its management organization shall act to further the best interests of HL7 in their official affairs. They shall:
- Be alert for, and disclose, relationships with third parties which might affect their independent judgment when acting for or on behalf of HL7,
- Be alert in the conduct of the affairs of HL7 to avoid situations in which they might, directly or indirectly, profit personally and disclose any known occurrences, and
- At all times, use their best efforts to enhance the reputation of HL7 for honesty, integrity, candor and lack of bias or discrimination while representing the members and the best interests of HL7.
- Avoid situations in which they personally might profit or even give the appearance of profiting from their official HL7 activities.
- Not employ the name of HL7 in seeking or accepting payment for professional services.
- Not, directly, or indirectly, accept or solicit anything of significant value as a gift, gratuity or favor under circumstances that might affect, or reasonably lead others to believe such action would affect, their impartiality on behalf of HL7. This does not prohibit acceptance of reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses while acting as an official HL7 spokesperson or of social amenities and token gifts of purely nominal value, consistent with generally accepted business practices and good taste. If there is any doubt as to the relative value of or the propriety of accepting a gift, it may be resolved by either declining to accept the gift or amenity, or obtaining the approval of the Chair or, in the case of employees of HL7 and its management organization, the Chief Executive Officer or the Executive Director.
- Not use the HL7 name or its stationery for other than official HL7 business.
- Not endorse any product or service provided by any HL7 participant. Use of the HL7 trademark, when approved, does not imply endorsement of a specific organization, product, or service by HL7.