Public protection paramount?

[RDK]

In Canada, the engineer's code of ethics places the protection of the public as the paramount ethical concern. Contrast this to lawyers and doctors whose overriding ethical concern is to the protection of their clients.

Is this the case in other jurisdictions?

Has the need to protect the public caused anyone hardship?

Anyone have a different view, ie the clients needs should be supreme?

 

[redtrumpet]

The client's needs are not supreme. Just because a client wants to walk you to the edge of the cliff doesn't mean you have to jump. Remember it is your seal on the drawings and you are the person whose name they will remember.

Re: Canadian ethics - Engineers are to conduct themselves with fairness, courtesy, and good faith towards clients and to present clearly to employers and clients the possible consequences if professional decisions are overruled or disregarded.

So, although protection of the public is paramount, the engineer also owes a duty of care to the client.

 

[RDK]

Agreed. In addition to duty of care to client there are also ethicial obligations to the profession and to oneself. Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com