Preamble
The International Association of Special Investigation Units (“IASIU”) is dedicated to the thorough investigation of insurance claims consistent with the highest standards of ethical and legal conduct. IASIU adopts the following Code of Ethics. Our members agree to observe this Code as a condition of their membership and affiliation with IASIU.
Code of Ethics
- Members will at all times act with integrity, trustworthiness and honesty, modeling the behavior exemplary of our profession.
- Members will diligently and competently assume and perform their professional responsibilities.
- Members will respect the sensitive nature of any confidential or proprietary information made known or available to them, consistent with the law.
- Members will also exercise the care required to prevent the unlawful or improper disclosure of such information.
- Members will take the appropriate care to protect or maintain the reputation or professional practice of a colleague, employer, insured, claimant or other subject of an investigation.
- Members will display the requisite courage and responsibility in their decision making when faced with potential conflicts of interest.
- Members shall perform their duties in accordance with the law.
Anti-Trust Statement
It is IASIU's policy to comply with all federal and state antitrust laws. The responsibility for our antitrust compliance rests with IASIU's individual directors, officers, representatives and members.
Antitrust laws mandate, in summary, that competitors may not restrain competition among themselves with reference to the price, quality, or distribution of any products, and that they may not act in concert to restrict the competitive capabilities or opportunities of their competitors, suppliers, or customers.
It is generally unlawful to fix prices, boycott, or to engage in anticompetitive conduct. Even an “offer” to engage in anticompetitive conduct -- made in the context of a trade association meeting -- may be “accepted” by the subsequent conduct of the association’s members. Therefore, it is important that all IASIU directors, officers, representatives and members avoid this conduct, or even the appearance of it, in their activities at all times.
IASIU directors, officers, representatives and members must not discuss, in the course of any IASIU meeting or function, any of their company’s individual decisions to, for example, participate (or not to participate) in any plan, program, deal with a vendor, utilize claims programs or business practices, etc. Antitrust enforcement authorities have, in the past, alleged that discussions of this nature resulted in a collective decision by health insurers not to participate in a particular health care reimbursement program. To avoid such an inference with respect to today’s meeting, any individual company’s decision with respect to any program, practice or vendor should not be the subject of our discussions.
Penalties for violating the antitrust laws are severe, subjecting corporations to criminal penalties, as well as civil damage judgments and injunctive decrees. Individuals also are subject to criminal prosecution and may be punished by fines or imprisonment.
It is imperative that IASIU Board members, officers, representatives and members work conscientiously to avoid any discussion that may have unintended implications. In the event that any questions or concerns arise during any IASIU meeting or activity, please consult with legal counsel for IASIU, David Bronstein.
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