CDH Charter

The member charities of ACDHO (the Alliance of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Organizations are proud to announce the creation of a Charter.  

As was announced on the 2019 CDH Telethon, 5 members of ACDHO began creation of a charter over 2 years during the CDH Study Group Conference in Liverpool.   The Charter is finally complete and public and charities are signing on.

This Charter is meant to inspire the entire Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Community to work together for our common goals, to be respectful of the work of others and to collaborate professionally in the fight against CDH.

ACDHO includes any licensed and legal CDH charity that meets the professional guidelines as outlines.   New membership is voted on by all current members, is free and does not restrict charities in any way.   ACDHO was founded over a decade ago.

ACHDO on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CDHorganizations/

ACDHO Web Site - http://acdho.blogspot.com/

ACDHO CHARTER

Alliance of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Organizations (ACDHO)

An international group of nonprofit and research organizations working together to better

serve patients and families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Code of Ethics

All members shall adhere to the following. Violations may result in consequences such as a

warning, suspension, expulsion from ACDHO, etc.

1. Members have a positive duty to observe the highest standards of truth, accuracy, and integrity

with fellow members and professionals, patients, families, the media,

colleagues, other organizations, and the public.

2. Members shall treat other individuals with dignity and respect, avoiding extravagant

claims or unfair comparisons and giving credit for ideas and words borrowed from

others.

3. Members must not engage in any practice nor be seen to conduct themselves in any

manner detrimental to the reputation of ACDHO or the reputation and interests of the

CDH Research and Medical Nonprofit Communities. Members also shall not

intentionally damage the professional reputation or practice of another member

4. Members shall avoid conflicts of interest.

a. Members shall not make medical referrals to any specific doctor(s) or facilities over or above providing patient families with information on which hospitals provide care for CDH.

b. Members have a duty to ensure that the actual interest of any organization with which they may be professionally concerned is adequately declared.

5. Members will not disclose confidential information belonging to, or obtained through their ACDHO affiliation to any person, including relatives, friends, and business and

professional associates, unless ACDHO has authorized disclosure. This policy is not

intended to prevent disclosure where disclosure is required by law. All members are

cautioned to demonstrate professionalism, good judgment, and care to avoid

unauthorized or inadvertent disclosures of confidential information. Upon separation of

a member from ACDHO, he or she shall return all documents and other materials that

may contain confidential information.

6. Members must uphold this code and cooperate with fellow members in so doing by

enforcing decisions on any matter arising from its application. A member that knowingly

causes or permits a colleague to act in a manner inconsistent with this code is complicit

to such action and shall themselves be deemed to be in breach of it.

7. Members are required to take all reasonable care that professional duties are

conducted in accordance with all requisite laws and without causing offence on the

grounds of gender, race, religion, disability or any other form of discrimination or

unacceptable reference.

8. Members shall avoid violating rules regarding intellectual property rights within

ACDHO.

a. The ACDHO seal is joint property of current members of ACDHO and can only be

b. The CDH Awareness Ribbon is public domain and may be used by any charity or

organization, or individual. Similarly, members agree that no entity will own

rights to the CDH Awareness Ribbon, CDH Awareness Day (April 19th), or any

other graphics, international events, etc. that should belong to all patients and

entities wishing to raise CDH Awareness.

c. All names, logos, websites, graphics, merchandise, etc. of individual charities

within ACDHO are their own intellectual properties and should not be used

without prior permission from said organization.

d. Members agree to respect the artistic rights of individuals and organizations, and

agree not to infringe or compete by creating similar intellectual properties.

Purpose and Goals

• Work together to support and advocate for CDH patients and their families
• Ensure that all CDH patients are referred to an ACDHO partnered charity for support
• Raise CDH awareness worldwide
• Help set standards for new CDH nonprofits and mentor new charities/leaders

All members must sign this charter, thereby agreeing to follow all rules stated therein. The

charter may be amended at any point in time, and members will be required to sign any

updated versions.