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DELAWARE
SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION
Code of Ethics
Revised
2003
Preamble
The
preservation of the highest standards of integrity and ethical principles is
vital to the responsible discharge of obligations by speech-language
pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, or hearing scientists. This
Code of Ethics sets forth the fundamental principles and rules considered
essential to this purpose. Every individual who is a member of the Delaware
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (DSHA) shall abide by this Code of Ethics.
Any action that violates the intent of this Code shall be considered
unethical. Failure to specify any particular responsibility or practice in
this Code of Ethics shall not be construed as denial of the existence of such
responsibilities or practices.
The
fundamentals of ethical conduct are described by Principles of Ethics and by
Rules of Ethics as they relate to the
conduct of research and scholarly activities and responsibility to persons
served, the public, and speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and
speech, language, or hearing scientists.
Principles
of Ethics, aspirational and inspirational in nature, form the underlying moral
basis for the Code of Ethics. Individuals shall observe these principles as
affirmative obligations under all conditions of professional activity.
Rules
of Ethics apply to all DSHA members and are either statements of the minimum
requirements regarding acceptable professional conduct or prohibitions against
specific unethical practices.
Principle
of Ethics I
Individuals
shall honor their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they
serve professionally or participate in research and scholarly activities and
shall treat animals involved in research in a humane manner.
Rules
of Ethics
A.
Individuals shall provide all services competently.
B.
Individuals shall use every resource, including referral when appropriate, to
ensure that high-quality service is provided.
C.
Individuals shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or
the conduct of research and scholarly activities on the basis of race or
ethnicity, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or
disability.
D.
Individuals shall not misrepresent the credentials of assistants, technicians,
or support personnel and shall inform those they serve professionally of the
name and professional credentials of persons providing services.
E.
Individuals who hold the Certificates of Clinical Competence shall not
delegate tasks that require the unique skills, knowledge, and judgment that
are within the scope of their profession to assistants, technicians, support
personnel, students, or any nonprofessionals over whom they have supervisory
responsibility. An individual may delegate support services to assistants,
technicians, support personnel, students, or any other persons only if those
services are adequately supervised by an individual who holds the appropriate
Certificate of Clinical Competence.
F.
Individuals shall fully inform the persons they serve of the nature and
possible effects of services rendered, products dispensed, and they shall
inform participants in research about the possible effects of their
participation in research conducted.
G.
Individuals shall evaluate the effectiveness of services rendered and of
products dispensed and shall provide services or dispense products only when
benefit can reasonably be expected.
H.
Individuals shall not guarantee the results of any treatment or procedure,
directly or by implication; however, they may make a reasonable statement of
prognosis.
I.
Individuals shall not provide clinical services solely by correspondence.
J.
Individuals shall adequately maintain and appropriately secure records of
professional services rendered, research and scholarly activities conducted,
and products dispensed. Access to these records shall be allowed only
when authorized or when required by law.
K.
Individuals shall not reveal, without authorization, any professional or
personal information about identified persons served professionally or
identified participants involved in research and scholarly activities, unless
required by law to do so, or unless doing so is necessary to protect the
welfare of the person or of the community or otherwise required by law.
L.
Individuals shall not charge for services not rendered, nor shall they
misrepresent services rendered, products dispensed, or research and scholarly
activities conducted.
M.
Individuals shall involve persons as research participants or as subjects of
teaching demonstrations only with their informed consent.
N.
Individuals whose professional services are adversely affected by substance
abuse or other health-related conditions shall seek professional assistance and,
where appropriate, withdraw from the affected areas of practice.
Principle
of Ethics II
Individuals
shall honor their responsibility to achieve and maintain the highest level of
professional competence.
Rules
of Ethics
A.
Individuals shall engage in the provision of clinical services only when they 1)
hold the appropriate Certificate of Clinical Competence or 2) when they are in
the certification process and are supervised by an individual who holds the
appropriate Certificate of Clinical Competence or 3) are licensed by the state
of Delaware according to the May 2001 licensure laws.
B.
Individuals shall engage in only those aspects of the professions that are
within the scope of their competence, considering their level of education,
training, and experience.
C.
Individuals shall continue their professional development throughout their
careers.
D.
Individuals shall delegate the provision of clinical services only to persons
hold the appropriate Certificate of Clinical Competence or 2) when they are in
the certification process and are supervised by an individual who holds the
appropriate Certificate of Clinical Competence or 3) are licensed by the state
of Delaware according to the May 2001 licensure laws.
E.
Individuals shall not require or permit their professional staff to provide
services or conduct research activities that exceed the staff member’s
competence, level of education, training,
and experience.
F.
Individuals shall ensure that all equipment used in the provision of services or
to conduct research and scholarly activities is in proper working order and is
properly calibrated.
Principle
of Ethics III
Individuals
shall honor their responsibility to the public by promoting public understanding
of the professions, by supporting the development of services designed to
fulfill the unmet needs of the public, and by providing accurate information in
all communications involving any aspect of the professions including
dissemination of research findings and activities.
Rules
of Ethics
A.
Individuals shall not misrepresent their credentials, competence, education,
training, experience, or scholarly or research contributions.
B.
Individuals shall not participate in professional activities that constitute a
conflict of interest.
C.
Individuals shall refer those served professionally solely on the basis of the
interest of those being referred and not on any personal financial interest.
D.
Individuals shall not misrepresent diagnostic information, research, services
rendered, or products dispensed OR engage in any scheme or artifice to defraud
in connection with obtaining payment; neither shall they accept reimbursement
for such services or products.
E.
Individuals’ statements to the public shall provide accurate information about
the nature and management of communication disorders, about the professions,
and about professional services and about research and scholarly activities.
F.
Individuals’ statements to the public [advertising, announcing, and marketing
their professional services, reporting research results, and promoting products]
shall adhere to prevailing professional standards and shall not contain
misrepresentations.
Principle
of Ethics IV
Individuals
shall honor their responsibilities to the professions and their relationships
with colleagues, students, and members of allied professions. Individuals shall
uphold the dignity and autonomy of the professions, maintain harmonious
inter-professional and intraprofessional relationships, and accept the
professions’ self-imposed standards.
Rules
of Ethics
A.
Individuals shall prohibit anyone under their supervision from engaging in any
practice that violates the Code of Ethics.
B.
Individuals shall not engage in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation,
sexual harassment, or any other form of conduct that adversely reflects on the
professions or on the individual’s fitness to serve persons professionally.
C.
Individuals shall not engage in sexual activities with clients, participants in
research or scholarly activities, or students over whom they exercise
professional authority.
D.
Individuals shall assign credit only to those who have contributed to a
publication, presentation, or product. Credit shall be assigned in proportion to
the contribution and only with the contributor’s consent.
E.
Individuals shall reference the source when using other persons’ ideas,
research, presentations, or products in written, oral, or any other media
presentation or summary.
F.
Individuals’ statements to colleagues about professional services, research
results, and products shall adhere to prevailing professional standards and
shall contain no misrepresentations.
G.
Individuals shall not provide professional services without exercising
independent professional judgment, regardless of referral source or
prescription.
H.
Individuals shall not discriminate in their relationships with colleagues,
students, and members of allied professions on the basis of race or ethnicity,
gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.
I.
Individuals who have reason to believe that the Code of Ethics has been violated
shall inform the Delaware Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists,
Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers, and the American Speech-Language
Hearing Association Ethical Practice Board if the individual is so certified.
J.
Individuals shall comply fully with the policies of the Delaware Board of
Examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists, Audiologists and Hearing Aid
Dispensers, and the American Speech-Language Hearing Association’s Ethical
Practice Board if the individual is so certified, in its consideration and
adjudication of complaints of violations of the Code of Ethics.