Ethics Complaint Process

IAABC Members are held accountable to our Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice through our ethics complaint process.

Initiation of the Complaint

An ethics complaint can be filed by any person who has concerns regarding the actions of an IAABC Member. The IAABC requires Complainants to identify themselves by their full name. This, and any other identifying information, will not be shared by the IAABC with anyone outside of the Ethics Team and senior leadership. Thus, our complaint process is not anonymous but is confidential.

Administrative Checks

After the complaint is filed, the Ethics Director will gather information about the Respondent’s membership and credentialing status with the IAABC.

Preliminary Review

If the Respondent is a member, a Complaint Review Panel is formed which will determine whether the complaint indicates a potential violation, and a formal investigation is warranted. The preliminary review decision is based on factors including (but not limited to): strength of evidence, seriousness of alleged violation, Complainant’s familiarity with the situation, and the Complainant’s argument for how the Respondent’s (target of the complaint) actions constitute a violation of the stated section(s) of the Code of Ethics. The Complaint Review Panel may decide to elevate the complaint to a formal investigation or to dismiss the complaint. If the Complaint Review Panel decides to dismiss the complaint, the Ethics Director will contact the Complainant to let them know the complaint is closed, without notifying the Respondent.

Respondent Notification

If the Complaint Review Panel decides to elevate the complaint to a formal investigation, the Ethics Director next contacts the Respondent. The Respondent is notified of the complaint, the evidence, and the opportunity to offer their account and respond to questions from the Complaint Review Panel.

Final Determination

In the last step, the Complaint Review Panel convenes to determine whether a violation occurred. If a violation occurred, sanctions may be recommended. The Complaint Review Panel may recommend sanctions including reprimand, suspension, or revocation of membership and/or credentials.

Approval

The final determination is then sent for approval to the Board of Directors Executive Committee. The final determination and recommendations may be approved at this stage, or returned to the Complaint Review Panel for reconsideration.

Appeals

If a Respondent does not agree with the outcome of the complaint, they may file an appeal to have the case re-evaluated by a Hearing Panel. A Hearing Panel consists of members of the Board of Directors and the Ethics Team.

Cooperation

If you are notified of a complaint against you, please remember that participation and cooperation in the process is a requirement of membership and credentialing. Any Member may be subject to termination of membership, revocation of certification, and/or other disciplinary actions if they fail to cooperate with the organization at any point from the inception of an ethical complaint through the completion of all proceedings regarding that complaint.