Purpose
It is the policy of Lamaze International that all officers, committee members, consultants and staff of the Society shall, in actions taken by them on behalf of Lamaze International, avoid conflicts and the appearance of such conflicts, between their personal and professional interests of Lamaze International.

This policy statement shall be furnished to each officer, committee member, consultant and staff person.

A volunteer, consultant or staff person shall be considered to have a personal or professional interest in any educational program, publication, contract, grant, investment decision or similar transaction from which the volunteer, consultant, staff person or a member of his/her immediate family (i.e., spouse, child, siblings, parents) will or could receive payments, profits or other remuneration, or if any commercial or non-profit entity with which they are associated may similarly benefit.

If a volunteer, consultant or staff person is aware of any personal interest in any educational program, publication, contract, grant, investment decision or similar transaction to be acted upon by Lamaze International, they shall, prior to the time such transaction is discussed or acted upon (1) disclose the existence of personal interest and (2) abstain from voting on such transaction or otherwise attempt to influence the decision thereon. Disclosure of personal interest shall be accomplished in the following manner:

For Members of the Board and Staff
During the Board meeting preceding each fiscal year, each member of the Board and each staff person to whom this guideline may apply shall supply a written statement to the President identifying the names of companies or institutions with which each person has a professional relationship which may pose a conflict of interest as described in these guidelines. The declaration and list shall identify on the Conflict of Interest Statement only the companies or institutions with which such relationships exist; it is not necessary to identify the exact nature of the relationship. The statement should be presented to the President, with a copy filed with the Executive Director. These statements will be destroyed at the end of each year.

For Consultants
At the beginning of each contract year, a consultant shall supply a written statement to the President identifying the names of companies or institutions with which each person has a professional relationship which may pose a conflict of interest as described in these guidelines. The declaration and list shall identify on the Conflict of Interest Statement only the companies or institutions with which such relationships exist; it is not necessary to identify the exact nature of the relationship. The statement should be presented to the President, with a copy filed with the Executive Director. These statements will be destroyed at the end of each year.

For Committee Members
At the beginning of any formal discussion of any issue before such committee in which that committee member concludes that a conflict of interest exists the member shall inform the committee that such a conflict exists and shall refrain from discussing or voting on such issue. The minutes of such meetings shall identify any members abstaining from such discussions or votes.

If any questions shall arise as to whether a particular activity or organizational association constitutes a conflict of interest for a Board member, consultant, or staff, the question shall be submitted to the Board for decision. A majority vote of the Board members present shall decide such questions. The Executive Committee, with a three-fourths vote, may act on behalf of the Board in its absence. In any case in which the Board determines that a conflict of interest exists, the Board member, consultant or staff person shall take the action required above. If the Board member, consultant, or staff person fails to take the action required, the Board may remove the Board member according to the requirements existing under Lamaze International bylaws or, in the case of the consultant or staff person, instruct the Executive Director to take appropriate action.

Guidelines
To help determine what may be a conflict of interest...

A conflict of interest can be considered to exist in any instance where the actions or activities of an individual on behalf of the Society also involve the obtaining of an improper gain or advantage to the individual, an entity with which they are affiliated, or an adverse effect on the interests of Lamaze International. This includes instances in which the individual acts to support or advance projects at their place of employment or business, or for a place for which they provide consultant services. Conflicts of interest can also arise in other instances. Although it is impossible to list every circumstance giving rise to a possible conflict of interest, the following will serve as a guide to the types of activities that might cause conflicts.

Outside Interests
To hold, directly or indirectly, a position or a financial interest in any outside concern from which the individual has good reason to believe Lamaze International secures services.

To compete, directly or indirectly, with Lamaze International in the purchase or sale of property rights, interests or services.

Outside Activities
To render directive, managerial or consultative services to any outside concern or association that does business with or competes with the services of Lamaze International in the field of perinatal education and family-centered maternity care in particular or to render other services in competition with Lamaze International.

To endorse or publicly support directly or indirectly the sale of perinatal education and family-centered maternity care products or services while representing oneself as a member of the Board of Directors.

In general, members of the Board and committees may provide personal, professional consultant services to commercial and other entities consistent with other contents of this statement, but may do so only in their individual capacities and not as a representative of the Society. The identities of such relationships should be made by each member to the Board, as noted above.

With regard to participation in educational programs sponsored by commercial interests, members of the Board and committees may participate as individuals not associated with Lamaze International and may be represented as such as long as their affiliations with the Society are not

In general, participation in programs within health institutions, e.g., giving clinical lectures, etc., may be handled comfortably in this context. The context of publicly advertised educational programs for large audiences beyond the institutions should be scrutinized by Board members, and especially officers, because inappropriate advertising may be construed by the wide audiences receiving promotional literature as implied endorsement by Lamaze International of the program or the sponsor.

Exceptions to the latter guideline may be approved by the Board.

Gifts, Gratuities and Entertainment
To accept gifts, entertainment or other favors from any outside concern that does, or is seeking to do, business with Lamaze International.

Outside Information
To disclose or use information relating to the business of Lamaze International for the personal profit or advantage of the individual or his/her immediate family, or an entity with which the individual is affiliated.

Approved: April 1993