Preamble
The Code of Ethics of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International, OARSI (Society) applies to the entire Society, including its Fellows and Members, and is enforceable solely by the Society.
The primary purpose of this Code of Ethics is to support OARSI’s mission, which is to be the premier international organization for scientists and health care professionals focused on the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis through the promotion and presentation of research, education and the worldwide dissemination of new knowledge.
OARSI can succeed in this mission only if it maintains its reputation in the scientific and medical communities and with the general public as a credible, objective and unbiased force whose statements, activities and relationships are beyond reproach.
It is the purpose of this code to provide guidelines which will ensure this reputation is maintained. OARSI has not attempted in this Code to set forth a position regarding all ethical issues which its members may face in their day-to-day professional activities. A primary purpose of this Code is to emphasize those ethical matters which bear directly on OARSI’s scientific and educational mission and to those activities which relate to that mission.
As used in this Code of Ethics, the term "Member" means any Fellow or Member of the Society in any class of membership, except as otherwise noted.
Ethics Policy and Guidelines for OARSI Leadership
OARSI Leaders are expected to act in the interests of the Society and not for personal or third-party gain, promotion of commercial interests, or financial enrichment. This policy identifies and facilitates the resolution of conflict/dualities of interest.
OARSI leaders should engage in activities that are free from real or apparent conflicts/dualities of interest and from commercial or external influence or bias. Under this Policy, OARSI leaders are discouraged from: (1) using their positions and status to promote commercial interests; and (2) from participating in decisions and activities where an outside interest affects the leader’s loyalty to the Society, or where a leader’s action could affect the value of a commercial enterprise in which the leader has a financial interest.
In particular, these ethics policy and guidelines define for the OARSI Officers, Board of Directors, committee chairs and members, Editors, Associate Editors and Editorial Boards of OARSI journals and publications, task force members, and representatives of OARSI to other societies:
- what constitutes a conflict/duality/duality of interest
- how to resolve a conflict/duality or duality of interest with respect to other professional societies, journals, industrial and pharmaceutical concerns and external entities.