Register of Interests for the European Pain Federation EFIC Council Members – May 2005
Code of conduct and guidance on the register of interests for members of European Pain Federation EFIC
Membership of the the European Pain Federation EFIC’s Council is a privilege which carries with it the twin responsibilities of supporting and guiding health care professionals and protecting patients. In order that all may have confidence in the effectiveness and impartiality of the Council, members undertake:
- To make themselves available for service on the Council and those of its committees and working parties to which they may be elected or appointed.
- To take decisions without favour to any individual corporate body or other association, whether medical or lay.
- To avoid placing themselves under obligation to any individual or organisation which might affect their ability to act impartially and objectively as members of the Council.
- To declare in the Federation’s Register of interests their membership of other bodies or organisations in accordance with the Federation’s guidance on this matter.
- To declare relevant interests or prior knowledge in the course of Federation’s business, and/or to take steps to avoid such interests or knowledge giving rise to a conflict of interest.
- To serve without seeking personal gain or preferment.
- To avoid bias on grounds of race, disability, lifestyle, culture, beliefs, colour, gender, sexuality or age.
- To be open about the decisions and actions they take as Council members, restricting information only when the principle of confidentiality demands it
- To observe the confidentiality of information identified as confidential which they receive as a privilege of Council membership.
- To distinguish clearly, when speaking or writing, between personal views and those of the Council of the Federation.
- To support the above principles by leadership and example.
Guidance on the Register of Interests
Current elected and co-opted Council members will be invited to indicate their commitment to the code by making a statement and returning it to the Secretariat.
Members of the Council are expected to act impartially and objectively, and to take steps to avoid any conflict of interest arising as a result of their membership of, or association with, other organisations or individuals. In order that this should be clearly apparent, the Federation has established a register of Council members’ interests.
The Federation attaches great importance to trying to ensure a proper balance between transparency and privacy. The aim of the register is not to satisfy curiosity but to support transparency and probity, and to maintain confidence in the regulatory process. The Register may be viewed upon application to the Secretariat.
With this aim in mind, Federation has agreed that the following interests should be declared whether they relate to the individual or their immediate family:
Any office held in a professional body, specialist society, medical Royal College or other similar body in the public, private or voluntary sector.
Membership of, or posts held in, local, national or international community organisations.
Consultancies, directorships, or advisory positions if they relate to a medical, healthcare or pharmaceutical company or organisation.
Membership of a political party or pressure group with an interest in the Federation’s work.
Shareholdings in (i) any medical, healthcare or pharmaceutical company or organisation or (ii) Any other organisation that may influence, trade, supply or advise the Society.
Sponsored lecture tour
The Secretariat will be responsible for keeping the register of members’ interests. Members should amend their entries in the register as soon as possible following any change in their circumstances, and will, in any event, be invited to update their entries in the spring of each year.
Ethics Committee December 2004
Agreed by Council in Sofia, May 2005
