For Officers, the Board of Directors, and Committee Members
Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) requires that all officers, the Board of Directors, and committee members (hereinafter collectively referred to as Members) disclose all relationships with commercial entities (hereinafter collectedly referred to as Organizations) whose products or services are related to the goals of HFSA. These relationships may constitute real or perceived conflicts of interest and have the potential to influence the way Members carry out their responsibilities. This disclosure policy is designed to protect the reputation and integrity of HFSA.
The following relationships should be disclosed: those with Organizations on the part of the Member or the Member’s spouses/partners, and dependents during the past 12 months:
- Honoraria / Speaker’s Bureau: including honoraria from a third party, gifts or in-kind compensationfor speaking
- Consultant / Advisory Board: consulting, travel, scientific advisory board service, legal testimony or consultation, or other purpose
- Equity interests / Stock Options (or entitlement to the same) including a non-publicly traded company
- Royalty Income / Intellectual Property Rights or the right to receive future royalties under a license or copyright, where the topic is directly related to the licensed technology or work under discussion
- Officer / Trustee / Director
- Ownership / Employment
- Research Grants / Fellowships Support from a commercial entity
If you are aware of any other relationships with Organizations that might be perceived by others as potentially influencing your objectivity in any HFSA matters in which you are involved, please disclose such relationships pursuant to the procedures described below.
Members are required to file a signed Disclosure Form not less than annually and on such other occasions as requested by the CEO, Board of Directors or Ethics Committee. Disclosure Forms must be completed and signed at the time of appointment to the Board of Directors or any HFSA committee. Members must disclose any new relationships that arise after submission of the Disclosure Form.
The Disclosure Form will be reviewed by the CEO and may be reviewed by the Ethics Committee (collectively, the Reviewing Body) to determine whether a conflict of interest exists. As a result of the review, further inquiries may be made. In the event that a Member fails to provide requested information or when it is determined that an unresolvable conflict of interest exists, the Reviewing Body is authorized to make a recommendation to the Board of Directors regarding a Member’s continuing role and participation as an officer, member of the Board of Directors, or member of a committee of HFSA. It may be recommended that a Member’s participation in some matters may be modified or, in certain circumstances, discontinued. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to make the final decision as to a Member’s continuing role and participation in HFSA.
When a Member’s participation in HFSA involves a matter relating to an Organization with which a relationship exists, he or she should leave the meeting for the duration of the discussion. The Member’s departure will be noted in the meeting minutes.
The responsibility for identifying and disclosing relationships rests with the Member. Questions should be addressed to the CEO.