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Guidelines Concerning CDHA Relationships with Third Parties
CDHA has defined principles for entering into relationships with various third parties, including industry, advertisers, government, sister organizations, consumer or client groups, and suppliers. These principles guard CDHA against the potential for these relationships to undermine core values of vital importance, such as professionalism, integrity, independence, trust, reputation, and credibility.
May 2005
Preamble:
The CDHA (Canadian Dental Hygienists Association) is committed to serving the dental
hygiene profession and advancing its legitimate ends. Activities mandated under
CDHA’s mission include advocacy for the profession, advocacy on behalf of the public
in the matter of dental health, research and knowledge production, professional and
public education, and the provision of services to members and to the public.
In pursuit of its mandated ends, the CDHA actively seeks and enters into relationships
(e.g., contracts, partnerships, alliances, and coalitions) with various third parties,
including industry, advertisers, government, sister organizations, consumer or patient
groups, and suppliers. In doing so, CDHA is vigilantly aware of, and guards itself
against, the potential for such relationships to undermine values of vital importance, such
as professionalism, integrity, independence, trust, reputation, credibility, and the moral
capital in the Association’s brand.
The principles in this document have been developed in recognition of the desirability,
and even necessity, of relationships with third parties, with the objective of ensuring that
the CDHA does not undermine its core values in pursing and entering into these
relationships. These principles are thus intended to guide and limit the association in
forming relationships with third parties and in determining the parameters (e.g., terms
and conditions) of the relationships into which it enters.
By publishing these principles, the CDHA professes to third parties, its members, and to
the public in general, the terms in which it seeks and enters into third party relationships,
and thereby promotes transparency and accountability.
Principles:
- CDHA actively pursues relationships with third parties insofar as these
relationships:
- Assist CDHA in its mandated ends, and
- Occur under terms and conditions consistent with, or complementary to,
CDHA’s ends and values.
- In deciding whether to enter a relationship with a third party, CDHA will
consider the ends of the third party and will avoid entering into relationships with
third parties whose ends are not compatible with those of CDHA.
- In deciding whether to enter a particular relationship (e.g., a partnership on a
public education project) with a third party whose ends are generally compatible
with those of CDHA, CDHA will ensure that the terms and conditions of the
relationship are also compatible with its ends do not undermine its independence,
trust, credibility or reputation.
- In the interests of fairness to third parties and independence from undue influence,
CDHA will avoid entering into exclusive arrangements with third parties and will
seek to diversify its relationships so as not to become dependent on any particular
one.
- CDHA will take care to ensure (for example, by means of disclaimers; care in the
placement of its logos) that its association with a third party will not be
represented by a third party, or otherwise construed as indicating support for, or
endorsement of, any product or program of the third party, unless such support or
endorsement is expressly stated.
- When CDHA enters into relationships with third parties, CDHA will only express
its support for, or endorsement of, a product or program, if it has independently
evaluated the product or program and found it to be worthy of such support or
endorsement.
- CDHA will take care to ensure (for example, by editorial control) that
promotional material or events with which it is associated are distinguished, and
kept distinct from, educational material and events. Materials and events that are
offered as educational will be subject to proper educational standards, including
editorial freedom and independence from undue influence, non-bias, and
scientific rigor.
- In its dealings with third parties, CDHA will safeguard the confidentiality of
member information under its custody and respect the right of its members to
privacy.
- CDHA will undertake to be public, transparent and responsive to concern about
its relationships with third parties. CDHA encourages its members, and the public
in general, to express to CDHA any concerns they may have about its
relationships with third parties.
- CDHA will ensure that reasonable and adequate review and approval processes
exist to give effect to, and promote accountability for consistency with, these
principles.
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