We treat all client information in the strictest confidence, hence our requirements for AML /KYC qualification of reviewers and PAN members engaged in processes and the general and project specific NDAs that are involved.
We aim to treat all disclosures and projects fairly without discrimination for any characteristic of authorship and apply the same standards of qualification to all.
The same standards of evidence apply to all, this means that regardless of reputation or lack of, a disclosure must be able to stand on its own merit. It is expected that those with the greater experience will be capable of creating such disclosures with greater ease and a greater probability of success by generating disclosures and projects of a higher quality and a high standard of evidence, not an assumption of correctness. This is one reason why we do not disclose the authorship of a disclosure initially.
Any project whose aim is to defraud would be rejected, though it could merit a thorough examination in order to determine appropriate countermeasures
A project which victimised individuals, communities or groups, either deliberately or as a by product would not be acceptable.
A project that displayed a blatant disregard for the side effects of its implementation would fail at several points through the system
A project based upon the exploitation of individuals, communities or groups, without an equally strong reward mechanism for those exploited would not be acceptable, and would fail at several points through the system.
Whilst it might be assumed that the projects to reach Disclosure and later Project status will have been developed under appropriate ethical guidelines by the project sponsor and researchers involved, this does not mean that the system does not bear a responsibility to ensure that the eventual outcome of the project that is supported meets appropriate ethical guidelines. The difficulty is always going to be agreeing the guidelines that are appropriate
As a rule, None.
It is our responsibility to provide a level playing field for disclosures and projects for the benefit of all involved, and not to give undue advantage to any.
If as an associate or author you have already managed to successfully negotiate the QED pathway for a number of previous projects, then the odds are that if you apply the same effort, and the project is equally worthwhile, then you will manage to do the same for the next project. Every project is measured on its own merits, and whilst your involvement may increase its probability of success, no dispensation is available to the project just because you are involved. Remember Thomas Eddison had 1000's of failed attempts before he managed to light the bulb.