Guidelines and Regulations

As we have discussed, transparency and disclosure are complicated issues. Having guidelines to put disclosure into practice is necessary.

First, consider the timeliness of releasing information. The public should be notified as soon as legally possible. Remember if the information isn’t released, it will most likely escape. As Steward Brand wrote, ‘information wants to be free.”

Another check for disclosure is to always verify sources, data and research methods. Make sure the necessary research has been conducted and the practitioner can stand behind the facts and sources. The facts might be from other sources, but the practitioner will be the one putting the relationship at risk, and therefore, must fact check.