Earlier policy library. This page belongs to an earlier library of ASF policies. The current, approved governance set is the ASF Standards Package 2026 (GOV, OPS, QMS and EV documents). Where this page and the 2026 package differ, the 2026 package applies.
ASF Governance & Policy Manual · ASF-POL-31
Code of Conduct and Ethics
Part of the ASF Governance & Policy Manual. Adapted from the PHIG Institutional Policy Manual (consolidated edition, September 2026).
Everyone who acts for ASF — Council members, Secretariat staff, Coordinators and Monitors — must act with integrity, impartiality and accountability, and signs this Code on joining and annually thereafter. Owner: ASF Secretariat.
- Act impartially in every standards decision and every accreditation verification, regardless of personal relationship to the facility or author.
- Declare conflicts under the Conflict-of-Interest Policy before they arise, not after.
- Never accept a gift, payment or favour from a facility under assessment — governed jointly with Donor Due Diligence (ASF-POL-33).
- Treat every person ASF interacts with — facility staff, patients, colleagues — with respect, consistent with Equal Opportunity provisions in HR, Recruitment and Role Conduct (ASF-POL-20).
Breach is handled under Feedback, Complaints and Incident Management (ASF-POL-21); consequences for certified Coordinators/Monitors follow ASF-MON-STD-v1 Standard F2. This Code is endorsed by the International Standards Council, the same body that endorses every policy in this Manual under ASF-POL-46.