Scientists Lead the Way to Refusing Honoraria

Many municipal codes of ethics, including the City Ethics Model Code (Section 100(15)), contain a provision prohibiting the acceptance of fees and honoraria for articles, appearances, or speeches.

Today’s New York Times Science section contains an article about research scientists starting to refuse fees and honoraria. They find that when they are quoted, it is mentioned that they have accepted a fee or honorarium from a company that has something to gain or lose from the research the scientist has done. Their research is questioned by other scientists and by the public. Even when they think they are doing a public service, and the fees are not large, they find their reputation impugned.

Science is portrayed in the article as under “intense scrutiny.” Municipal government, sadly, is not.

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And many officials don’t see why they shouldn’t accept honoraria. After all, their salaries are hardly high. And they’re representing the city, helping its image and picking up useful information. Should they turn down invitations? No, of course not. But they should turn down fees and honoraria for attendance. They should keep all companies and interest groups at arm’s length. All they should be willing to accept are expenses, and only reasonable expenses, not private plane trips and lavish hotel rooms.

Municipal officials may not be under the same level of scrutiny as scientists, but the issues are the same. Their work and decisions can be trusted only if they remain as independent as possible. That is why fees and honoraria cannot be accepted, even for work done or time given.

Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics