Legal Definitions - self-policing privilege

Self-policing privilege is a term used to describe the ability of an organization or group to monitor and regulate their own behavior without external oversight or intervention. This privilege is often granted to professional organizations, such as medical or legal associations, and allows them to investigate and discipline their own members for misconduct or ethical violations.

For example, a medical board may have the authority to investigate and discipline a doctor who has been accused of malpractice or unethical behavior. This self-policing privilege allows the medical board to regulate the behavior of its members without the need for external oversight or intervention.

However, this privilege can also be problematic as it may lead to a lack of accountability and transparency. Without external oversight, there may be a tendency for organizations to protect their own interests rather than the interests of the public or those affected by their actions.

Another example of self-policing privilege is the ability of universities to investigate and discipline their own students for academic misconduct. This allows universities to maintain academic integrity without the need for external oversight or intervention.

Overall, self-policing privilege can be a useful tool for organizations to regulate their own behavior, but it is important to ensure that there is still accountability and transparency to prevent abuse of power.