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Independence may be defined in a professional context as a state in which one is self-reliant and not easily influenced by others. Professionals rely upon their own expertise and judgment rather than opinions, biases, or emotions of other persons. Independence, as an ethical concept, is prominent in the accounting profession. Indeed, all professionals should be independent in that they should not subordinate their judgment to make a client happy. Using some of the ethical concepts …

…this concept. Debate about it will continue if the profession is to remain viable, for such debate is an indicator of ethical health. Accountants must continually seek to strengthen the ethics of independence. Perhaps the greatest danger to the profession lies in potential apathy toward independence. If the public and its representatives were ever to perceive that independence was a sham, the profession would likely be swept away like a sand castle before the tides.