Professional Ethics Committee

Article I.         Purpose

The Professional Ethics Committee is a regular (non-Board) committee of the ACRP Board of Trustees. Members hold the responsibility to maintain and enforce standards of professional conduct and ethics within ACRP.

Article II.        Authority

The Professional Ethics Committee upholds ACRP’s Code of Ethics, reviewing and responding to cases of possible or actual misconduct by members or certificants and those seeking membership or certification.  The Committee may also draft position statements on behalf of the Association.

The Committee has the authority to take disciplinary actions for non-certified individuals, as a result of a complaint investigation in accordance with ACRP’s Discipline and Complaints Policy. In cases involving certificants from the Academy of Clinical Research Professionals, the Committee will investigate and recommend action to the Academy of Clinical Research Professionals for final action.

The Committee operates independently of the ACRP and Academy Boards of Trustees to review, investigate, and make a decision about a complaint; the committee then reports to the appropriate Board on the outcome per the Discipline and Complaints Policy.

In discharging its responsibilities, the Professional Ethics Committee shall have full access to any relevant records of the organization. The Committee shall have the authority to obtain advice and seek assistance from internal and external advisors and consultants.

Article III.       Composition

The Committee shall consist of a minimum of five (5) ACRP members in good standing, with at least one international member living outside the United States or an individual with global expertise. Members may not be current members of the ACRP or Academy Board of Trustees. At least fifty percent of Committee members, not including the Chair, shall be certified by the Academy of Clinical Research Professionals. If there is an odd number of Committee members, the number of certified members shall be greater than the non-certified members.

After an open-nominations process, the Committee members, chairperson, and vice chair shall be recommended by the incoming ACRP Board Chair and appointed by vote of the ACRP Board of Trustees. Committee members must sign a confidentiality agreement when they join the Committee. While it is the intent to have succession planning within committees through mentoring of all committee members including the Vice Chair, it should be understood that based on the needs of the Committee, the Vice Chair may not automatically ascend to the Chair position at the completion of his or her term as Vice Chair. Skills and expertise preferred for Professional Ethics Committee members should include: experience dealing with difficult situations of sensitive nature; ability to perform unbiased review based on facts; tactful, direct communication; clinical research process knowledge and experience; and regulatory compliance – FDA and ICH – expertise.

Committee members will serve two-year terms and may serve up to one additional consecutive term. Committee terms will commence at the start of the fiscal year.  An individual may be appointed as Chair for one additional, one-year term if s/he has served for two terms.

The ACRP Executive Director, and any staff s/he deems necessary, shall be invited to  attend meetings of the Professional Ethics Committee, in a non-voting capacity.

Article IV.      Meetings

The Committee’s meetings are Ad Hoc as ethics complaints and tasks arise. All Committee members are expected to attend each meeting, in person or via telephone or videoconference. The Secretary of ACRP shall act as the Secretary of the Committee, keeping a minute record of all proceedings of the Committee. The Committee shall report such proceedings at the next succeeding regular meeting of the ACRP Board of Trustees.

A simple majority of the members of the Professional Ethics Committee shall constitute a quorum for any meeting. The act of a majority of the members present at a Committee meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Committee.

Article V.       Responsibilities

Professional Ethics Committee responsibilities include:

1. Address any complaints brought to the Committee in accordance with the ACRP Discipline and Complaints Policy.
2. Notify ACRP Board of Trustees or Academy Board of Trustees of any complaints, the outcome of complaint hearings, or recommended disciplinary actions.
3. Review and recommend updates to the following documents for Board approval every three years:
   • ACRP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
   • Discipline and Complaints Policy
4. Adhere to ACRP’s Policies and Procedures.

Article VI.      Standard of Care

In exercising their responsibilities, members of the Professional Ethics Committee will act in good faith and with that degree of diligence, care, and skill that ordinarily prudent persons would exercise under similar circumstances.  The Committee will incur only costs that are reasonably and appropriate in relation to ACRP’s assets, its purposes, and the skills available to the organization.