The following principles are deemed fundamental to the anthropologist's responsible, ethical pursuit of his profession. When there is a conflict of interest, these individuals must come first. The anthropologist must do everything within his power to protect their physical, social and psychological welfare and to honor their dignity and privacy. Where research involves the acquisition of material and information transferred on the assumption of trust between persons, it is axiomatic that the rights, interests, and sensitivities of those studied must be safeguarded. The aims of the investigation should be communicated as well as possible to the informant.
Informants have a right to remain anonymous.
This right should be respected both where it has been promised explicitly and where no clear understanding to the contrary has been reached. There should be no exploitation of individual informants for personal gain. Fair return should be given them for all services. There is an obligation to reflect on the foreseeable repercussions of research and publication on the general population being studied. The anticipated consequences of research should be communicated as fully as possible to the individuals and groups likely to be affected.