DP1

DecisionPoint
http://proethica.org/ontology/cases#DecisionPoint

DP1

Is Engineer A ethically obligated to report Engineer B's apparent serious violation to the state licensing board, and does the absence of a personal or competitive relationship with Engineer B affect that obligation?

Engineer A, a licensed professional engineer, has observed what he believes is a serious violation of the state board's rules of professional conduct by Engineer B — an engineer with whom he has no competitive relationship and no personal acquaintance. Engineer A must decide whether to report this apparent violation to the state engineering licensure board or remain silent, recognizing that engineering is a self-policing profession and that the duty to report is not discretionary.

File a complaint with the state engineering licensure board regarding Engineer B's apparent serious violation of professional conduct rules, acting on the foundational self-policing duty that applies to every licensed engineer regardless of personal or competitive relationship with the alleged violator.

Decline to report the violation on the grounds that Engineer A has no personal acquaintance with Engineer B and therefore no standing or sufficient basis to initiate a formal complaint, treating the reporting duty as contingent on personal relationship.

Attempt to contact Engineer B directly to discuss the apparent violation before filing any formal complaint with the licensing board, applying the collegial pre-reporting engagement norm regardless of the seriousness of the alleged violation.

Engineer A — Disinterested Observing Licensed Professional Engineer