How should conflicts of interest be handled when there is a close relative involved?

• A. Disclose the conflict and recuse from decisions where a close relative is involved, and follow ethical guidelines.
• B. Proceed with decisions to avoid delays, without disclosure.
• C. Delegate the decision to a relative.
• D. Ignore the conflict unless questioned by the public.

Answer: (A)

When a close relative is involved, transparency and impartiality matter. The best approach is to disclose the conflict and recuse from decisions where the relative is involved, and to follow ethical guidelines. Disclosure makes the potential bias visible, and recusal ensures decisions are made by someone without the conflict, preserving integrity and public trust. Delegating to a relative would still create an appearance of bias and violate ethics. Proceeding without disclosure risks biased decisions and undermines accountability. Ignoring the conflict until questioned by the public is not acceptable; proactive disclosure and recusal are standard practices to manage such situations.