Case Repository

Filtering by: Harassment and Anti-Discrimination

2024

Sustainable Development and Resilient Infrastructure
Case #24-5
Duty to the Public Employer Faithful Agents and Trustees Misrepresentation/Omission of Facts Professional Reports, Statements, Testimony Political Contributions, Gifts, Commissions Duty to Disclose Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Community Service/Civic Affairs Sustainable Development | Find Similar
Questions
  1. Engineer K personally believes the Sustainable Approach is better. Should Engineer K have only presented information about the Sustainable Approach?
  2. Does Engineer K have any ethical obligations after the City approves the Traditional Approach?
Conclusions
  1. Engineer K should present both approaches to the City if Engineer K believes both are viable solutions.
  2. Because Engineer K has entered into a contract to design the new flood water control system, Engineer K has an ethical obligation to act as a faithful agent or trustee. Engineer K is ethically obligated to fulfill their contractual obligations to the City and continue to design the Traditional Approach as approved by the City.

2022

Independence of Peer Reviewer
Case #22-8
Duty to the Public Employer Faithful Agents and Trustees Confidential Information Errors Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Reviewing the Work of Other Engineers | Find Similar
Questions
  1. Is Engineer B ethically required to make certain that Engineer A is advised of the planned peer review?
  2. Is Engineer A ethically required to cooperate with the peer review of Engineer B?
Conclusions
  1. Engineer B is ethically required to make certain that Engineer A is advised of the planned peer review. It is not necessary for Engineer B to provide that notice personally, but Engineer B must know either that Engineer A has been advised or that Engineer A has been terminated from the project.
  2. Owner and Engineer B are not required to obtain Engineer A’s consent to the peer review, merely to assure that Engineer A has been informed of the peer review. Especially in the face of known design defects in the first tower, Engineer A may not ethically object to the peer review.

2019

Disclosure of Personal Information
Case #19-1
Advertising Harassment and Anti-Discrimination | Find Similar
Questions

What are Engineer A’s ethical obligations under the circumstances?

Conclusions

Engineer A is certainly free to disclose his autism if he so chooses. However, the NSPE Code of Ethics does not compel disclosure nor does a failure to disclose somehow constitutes a “deception.”

Case texts: National Society of Professional Engineers, Board of Ethical Review.

NOTE: The NSPE Board of Ethical Review considers ethical cases involving either real or hypothetical matters submitted to it from NSPE members, other engineers, public officials, and members of the public. The BER reviews each case in the context of the NSPE Code of Ethics and earlier BER opinions. The facts contained in each case do not necessarily represent all of the pertinent facts submitted to or reviewed by the BER and shall not be considered a direct evaluation of any real matter that may have been submitted.

Each opinion is intended as guidance to individual practicing engineers, students, and the public. In regard to the question of application of the NSPE Code of Ethics to engineering organizations (e.g., corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, government agencies, and university engineering departments), the specific business form or type should not negate nor detract from the conformance of individuals to the Code. The NSPE Code deals with professional services, which must be performed by real persons. Real persons in turn establish and implement policies within business structures.

This opinion is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. It may be reprinted without further permission, provided that this statement is included before or after the text of the case and appropriate attribution is provided to the National Society of Professional Engineers' Board of Ethical Review.

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