American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology Annual Meeting Code of Conduct

The American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP) is dedicated to providing a safe and respectful environment for all participants, including members, staff, vendors, and attendees at all official ASCP events regardless of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, physical or mental disability, perceived disability, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal or pertinent state laws. ASCP does not tolerate discrimination or any form of prohibited harassment and is committed to enforcing this Code of Conduct at its Annual Meeting, Psychopharmacology Update Meetings, Clinical Trials Workshop or at any other ASCP event. As a professional society, the ASCP is committed to providing an atmosphere that encourages the free expression and exchange of scientific and educational ideas. Furthermore, ASCP upholds the philosophy of equal opportunity for and treatment of all meeting participants and staff in any venue.

Scope of Code

ASCP requires compliance with the Code of Conduct by all meeting participants, staff, guests, and vendors at all official ASCP events, including its annual meetings and workshops, committee meetings or other activities that are expressly sponsored or promoted by ASCP, whether held in public or private facilities. This policy is an expression of ASCP’s values and commitment to a safe and productive experience for all participants and attendees at its official events. This policy is not an acknowledgement, admission, or description of ASCP’s legal obligations with respect to any of the subject matters addressed herein, nor does it create any such legal obligations.

Harassment Defined

Prohibited harassment includes verbal, physical, and visual conduct that creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile environment.  Harassing conduct can take many forms and includes, but is not limited to, the following:  slurs, epithets, derogatory comments, insults, degrading or obscene words, jokes, demeaning statements, offensive gestures, or displaying derogatory or demeaning pictures, drawings, or cartoons based upon an individual’s sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, physical  or mental disability, perceived disability, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal or pertinent state laws or local ordinances.

Sexually harassing conduct in particular includes all of these prohibited actions, as well as other unwelcome conduct that is sexual in nature, such as unwanted sexual advances; lewd propositions or innuendos; leering; making sexual gestures; making sexually suggestive or graphic comments or engaging in inappropriate sexually-oriented conversation; displaying sexually suggestive objects, graphics, pictures, or posters, whether physically  or over the Internet; making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs or jokes; the sexual touching or display of one’s own body; or unwanted physical touching or assault, as well as impeding or blocking movements.

Sexually harassing conduct can be by a person of either the same or opposite sex.  It is a violation of this policy for males to sexually harass females or other males, and for females to sexually harass males or other females.  Conduct that begins as consensual in nature may become harassment if one party withdraws his or her consent.  Sexual or other harassment prohibited by this policy is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

The above list of prohibited behaviors is not a complete rendering of what may be deemed sexual or other harassment prohibited by this policy.  It is impossible to define every action or word that could be interpreted as harassment.  However, ASCP has a “zero tolerance” policy toward discrimination and all forms of harassment.  ASCP reserves the right to discipline meeting participants and members who engage in any inappropriate conduct, even if it is not specifically referred to or defined in this Code, or is not legally actionable as sexual or any other form of harassment.

Prohibited Conduct

Prohibited conduct at ASCP meetings and events, including teleconference calls, includes, but is not limited to:

1. harassment based on sex, race, color, personal appearance, national origin, religion, age, physical disability, mental disability, perceived disability, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal or pertinent state laws;
2. threatening comments or harassment about a person’s professional status, qualifications, or affiliations;
3. sexual harassment;
4. abusive conduct that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with another person’s ability to benefit from and enjoy or participate in the meeting, including social events related to the meeting and sponsored by ASCP;
5. hostile interruption of any event, speaker, or session; and
6. violence or threats of violence.

Reporting an Incident

Should you want to discuss an experience of inappropriate conduct at an ASCP meeting or other official ASCP event, including but not limited to the prohibited conduct described above, please contact the Project Manager of the ASCP, Lindsay Snyder at lsnyder@parthenonmgmt.com or (615) 324-2368. Any individual reporting such conduct is not required or expected to discuss the concern with the alleged offender. Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior at an ASCP event that is an immediate or serious threat to the safety of those present, or to the public, is advised to locate a house phone and ask for security, or to otherwise contact the authorities for protection.

ASCP cannot address claimed inappropriate conduct or harassment unless the claims are brought to the attention of ASCP leadership.  Meeting participants and members are encouraged to report any incidents of perceived violations of this policy as quickly as they can or otherwise feel safe doing.

ASCP can only investigate situations that arise at ASCP meetings or other ASCP-sponsored events or teleconferences. ASCP cannot address claimed inappropriate conduct unless the claims are brought to the attention of ASCP leadership. If a meeting participant experiences inappropriate conduct or harassment at the participant’s own or another institution, at a place of work, at a research facility, or online but not via ASCP-sponsored channels that individual should contact the appropriate person or department responsible for such things at that particular institution, facility or medium.

Investigation

The ASCP Officers will promptly and impartially investigate the facts and circumstances of any claim of inappropriate conduct or harassment under this policy and reserves the right to seek additional guidance.  ASCP will make every effort to keep the reporting individual’s concerns confidential and will not deliberately share personal information, other than as necessary to carry out the purpose of investigation. While complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, ASCP will keep the investigation and its findings as confidential as possible under the circumstances. During an investigation, ASCP or a designated independent consultant subject to obligations of confidentiality, generally will do the following (as necessary) to make a determination as to appropriate action:

• document the nature of the complaint;
• interview the complainant;
• conduct further interviews as necessary, such as with witnesses and, at an appropriate time, the alleged offender; document the ASCP’s findings regarding the complaint;
• document recommended follow-up actions and remedies, if warranted; and
• inform the complainant of the basic nature of the ASCP’s findings.

The ASCP will attempt to investigate any complaint or report of a violation of this policy in a prompt and timely manner.  Upon completion of the investigation, the claim will be presented to the ASCP leadership to decide the appropriate corrective measures to take against any person who has engaged in conduct prohibited by this policy, if ASCP determines such measures are necessary.  Such remedial action may include, but is not limited to, the items listed below in Disciplinary Action.

Disciplinary Action

If ASCP determines that an individual has engaged in prohibited conduct, ASCP shall determine the appropriate action to be taken, which may include, but is not limited to:

• private reprimand;
• removal from the Meeting without warning or refund;
• implementation of conditions upon attendance at future ASCP Meetings;
• restriction from attendance at future ASCP Meetings; or
• expulsion from the ASCP membership.

ASCP may, but is not required to, report any incident to proper authorities, including but not limited to law enforcement.  ASCP will do so if, in its sole discretion, such reporting is advisable or necessary. Nothing in this policy shall restrict or discourage any individual who experiences or is the target of conduct prohibited by this policy from reporting such conduct to the authorities, to the extent he or she deems such a report advisable or necessary.