As a means to promote the highest quality of professional and personal conduct of its members, the following constitutes the Code of Ethics and Conduct, which is endorsed and adhered to by all Diplomates of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA). This code pertains to ABFA Diplomates only.  In all instances in which written documents are required, these shall be electronic, provided a valid signature is contained within them.

​

Diplomates of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology shall:

​

a)   refrain from exercising professional or personal conduct adverse to the best interests and purposes of the ABFA;
 

b)   refrain from providing any material misrepresentation of education, training, experience, or area of expertise. Misrepresentation of one or more criteria for certification shall constitute a violation of this section of the code;
 

c)   refrain from providing any material misrepresentation of data upon which an expert opinion or conclusion is based. Diplomates shall render opinions and conclusions strictly in accordance with the evidence in the case (hypothetical or real) and only to the extent justified by the evidence;

​

d)   refrain from making statements that are not technically correct and scientifically based, including, but not limited to those in written reports, public addresses, or testimony.

​

e)   act at all times in an impartial manner by employing scientific methodology to reach logical, unbiased conclusions and by reporting all findings in a clear, concise manner;

​

f)    set a reasonable fee for services if it is appropriate to do so; however, no services shall be rendered on a contingency fee basis;

​

g)   treat all information from an agency or client with the confidentiality required;

​

h)   refrain from issuing public statements that appear to represent the position of the ABFA without specific authority first obtained from the Board of Directors; 

​

i)  respect the individual and collective rights of others and not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, place of birth, physical or mental disabilities, and/or professional standing;

​

j)  treat others with dignity and respect and adhere to zero tolerance against all forms of discrimination and harassment;

​

k)  treat all decedents and next of kin with dignity and respect;

​

l)  intervene or report unethical behavior, if witnessed.

 

An ethics complaint may be registered with the ABFA using the complaint form below:

​

​