18VAC10-20-700. Public statements.
A. The regulant must be truthful in all professional matters and must include all relevant information in professional reports, statements, or testimony, which must include the date indicating when such information was current.
B. When serving as an expert or technical witness, the regulant must express an opinion only when it is based on an adequate knowledge of the facts in the issue and a background of competence in the subject matter.
C. Except when appearing as an expert witness in court or in an administrative proceeding when the parties are represented by counsel, the regulant must issue no statements, reports, criticisms, or arguments on matters relating to professional practice that are inspired by or paid for by interested persons, unless the regulant has prefaced the comment by disclosing any self-interest and the identities of all persons on whose behalf the regulant is speaking.
D. A regulant must not knowingly make a materially false statement or deliberately withhold a material fact in any professional matter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-404 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR130-01-2 § 12.2, eff. October 18, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 4, Issue 8, eff. March 1, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 20, eff. September 1, 1990; Volume 7, Issue 14, eff. May 8, 1991; Volume 8, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 1992; Volume 10, Issue 15, eff. May 19, 1994; Volume 13, Issue 23, eff. October 1, 1997; Volume 23, Issue 1, eff. February 1, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2016; Volume 42, Issue 16, eff. May 1, 2026.