A chemical engineer shall disclose all know or potential conflicts of interest to their clients by promptly informing them of any business association, interest or other circumstances which could influence or appear to influence their judgement of the quality of their services.

• A. Absolutely true
• B. Absolutely not true
• C. Will not disclose if the conflict is very minor
• D. Not sure

Answer: (A)

Disclosing conflicts of interest to clients is a fundamental obligation to maintain integrity in engineering practice. When any business association, financial stake, or other circumstance could influence, or even appear to influence, a professional judgment about the quality of services, it must be disclosed promptly so the client can assess potential bias and decide on how to proceed. This requirement covers both known and potential conflicts, not just those that are already realized, because appearances matter and trust hinges on transparency. Even very minor conflicts should be disclosed, since withholding information can erode confidence and create questions about impartiality.