NCARB Model Rules of Conduct for architects

(…)The Rules should have as their objective the protection of the public and not the advancement of the interests of the profession of architecture.
The architect should not be burdened unfairly with rules and expectations that are unreasonable. The public, however, expects to find an architect in a leadership position on a construction project to protect its interests. Consequently, while the architect is primarily enjoined to serve a client’s best interests, the architect also has a supervening duty to the public.