|
The American Board of Chiropractic
Orthopedists (ABCO) is a voluntary, non-profit,
professional credentialing board that certifies
qualified chiropractic physicians and
practitioners engaged in the field of chiropractic
medicine who have met the professional knowledge
standards established by the Board.
Regardless of any other professional affiliation,
the ABCO Code of Ethics (Code) applies to: all
individuals certified by the ABCO as a Board
Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist, as a Diplomate
of the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists
(DABCO), and those individuals seeking ABCO
certification (candidates). The Code serves
as the minimum ethical standard for the
professional behavior of ABCO Diplomates and
can
didates.
The Code
is designed to provide both appropriate ethical
practice guidelines and enforceable standards of
conduct for all Diplomates and candidates.
The Code also serves as a professional resource
for the chiropractic physicians and practitioners,
as well as for those served by ABCO Diplomates and
candidates, in the case of a possible ethical
violation.
Among other primary goals,
the ABCO is dedicated to the implementation of
appropriate professional standards designed to
serve patient welfare and the profession.
First and foremost, ABCO practitioners give
priority to patient interests and act in a manner
that promotes integrity and reflects positively on
the profession consistent with accepted moral,
ethical, and legal standards.
Generally, an ABCO Diplomate or candidate has the
obligation to:
- Deal
fairly with all patients in a timely fashion,
and provide quality chiropractic services to
patients, by utilizing all necessary
professional resources in a technically
appropriate and efficient manner, and by
considering the cost effectiveness of
treatments.
- Respect
and promote the rights of patients by offering
only professional services that he/she is
qualified to perform and by adequately informing
patients about the nature of their conditions,
the objectives of the proposed treatment,
treatment alternatives, possible outcomes, and
the risk involved.
- Maintain
the confidentiality of all patient information
unless: the information pertains to
illegal activity; the patient expressly directs
the release of specific information; or, a court
or government agency lawfully directs the
release of the information.
- Avoid
conduct which may cause a conflict with patient
interests, and disclose to patients any
circumstances that could be construed as a
conflict of interest or an appearance of
impropriety, or that could otherwise influence,
interfere with, or compromise the exercise of
independent professional clinical judgment;
- Engage
in moral and ethical business practices by
providing accurate and truthful representations
concerning his/her professional qualifications
and other relevant information in advertising
and other representations; and,
- Further
the professionalism of the specialty of
chiropractic orthopedics by: being truthful with
regard to research, sources, findings, and
related professional activities; maintaining
accurate and complete research records, and
respecting the intellectual property and
contributions of others.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will be aware of and comply
with all applicable federal, state, and local
laws and regulations governing the
profession. The Diplomate/candidate will
not knowingly participate in, or assist, any act
in violation of applicable laws and regulations
governing the profession. Lack of
awareness or misunderstanding of these laws and
regulations does not excuse inappropriate or
unethical behavior. The
Diplomate/candidate will be responsible for
understanding these obligations.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will be aware of, and comply
with, all ABCO rules, policies and
procedures. Lack of awareness or
misunderstanding of an ABCO rule, policy or
procedure does not excuse inappropriate or
unethical behavior. The
Diplomate/candidate will not knowingly
participate in, or assist, any act of violation
of any ABCO rules, policies and
procedures. The Diplomate/candidate will
be responsible for understanding these
obligations.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will make appropriate
efforts to promote compliance with, and
awareness of, all applicable laws, regulations,
and ABCO rules and policies governing the
profession.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will make appropriate
efforts to prevent violations of all applicable
laws, regulations, and ABCO rules and policies
governing the profession.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will provide accurate and
truthful representations of all eligibility
information, and will submit valid application
materials for fulfillment of current
certification and recertification requirements.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will maintain the security,
and prevent the disclosure, of ABCO
Certification Program examination information
and materials.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will report any possible
violations of this Code of Ethics to the
appropriate government authority and to the
appropriate ABCO representative upon a
reasonable and clear factual basis.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will cooperate fully with
the ABCO concerning the review of possible
ethics violations and the collection of related
information.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will deliver competent
chiropractic treatment or services in a timely
manner and will provide quality patient care
applying appropriately professional skill and
compliance.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will recognize the
limitations of his/her professional ability, and
will only provide and deliver professional
services for which he/she is qualified.
The Diplomate/candidate will be responsible for
determining his/her own professional abilities
based on his/her education, knowledge,
competency and extent of practice experience in
the field and other relevant considerations.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will use all health-related
resources in a technically appropriate and
efficient manner.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will provide chiropractic
services based on patient needs and the
cost-effectiveness of treatments, and will avoid
unnecessary treatment or services. The
Diplomate/candidate will provide treatment that
is both appropriate and necessary to the
condition of the patient.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will exercise diligence and
thoroughness in providing patient care, and in
making professional diagnoses and
recommendations solely for the patient’s
benefit, free from any prejudiced or biased
judgment. The Diplomate/candidate who
offers his/her services to the public will not
decline a patient based on age, gender, race,
color, sexual orientation, national origin, or
any other bias that would constitute unlawful
discrimination.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will provide appropriate
professional referrals when it is determined
that he/she is unable to provide competent
professional, medical assistance.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will prepare and maintain
all necessary, required, or otherwise
appropriate records concerning his/her
professional practice, including all records
related to treatment of his/her patients.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will consult with other
health care professionals when such consultation
is appropriate, or when requested by the
patient.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will act in a manner that
may compromise his/her clinical judgment or
his/her obligation to deal fairly with all
patients. The Diplomate/candidate will not
allow medical conditions, personal problems,
psychological distress, substance abuse, or
mental health difficulties to interfere with
his/her professional clinical judgment or
performance.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will be truthful and
accurate in all advertising and representations
concerning qualifications, experience,
competency and performance of services,
including representations related to
professional status and/or areas of special
competence. The Diplomate/candidate will
not make false or deceptive statements
concerning his/her training, experience, or
competence; academic training or degrees;
certification or credentials; institutional or
association affiliations; services, or fees for
services.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will not make explicit or
implicit false or misleading statements about,
or guarantees concerning, any treatment or
service, orally or in writing.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will be accurate, truthful,
and otherwise act in an appropriate manner, with
regard to research findings and related
professional activities, and will make
reasonable and diligent efforts to avoid any
material representations.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will maintain appropriate,
accurate, and complete records with respect to
research findings and related professional
activities.
- When
preparing, developing, or presenting research
information and materials, the
Diplomate/candidate will not copy or use, in
substantially similar form, materials prepared
by others without acknowledging the correct
source and identifying the name of the author or
publisher of such material.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will respect and
protect the intellectual property rights of
others, and will otherwise recognize the
professional contributions of others.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will not engage in conduct
that may cause an actual or perceived conflict
between his/her own interests and the interests
of his/her patient. The
Diplomate/candidate will avoid conduct that
causes an appearance of impropriety.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will act to protect the
interests and welfare of the patient before
his/her own interests, unless such action is in
conflict with any legal, ethical, or
professional obligation. The
Diplomate/candidate will not exploit
professional relationships for personal gain.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will disclose to patients
any circumstance that could be construed as a
conflict of interest or as appearance of
impropriety or that could otherwise influence or
interfere with the exercise of professional
judgment.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will refrain from offering,
or accepting inappropriate payments, gifts, or
other forms of compensation for personal gain,
unless in conformity with applicable laws,
regulation and ABCO rules and policies.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will avoid conduct involving
inappropriate, unlawful, or otherwise unethical
monetary gain.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will charge fair,
reasonable, and appropriate fees for all
professional services.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will charge fees that
accurately reflect the services and treatment
provided to the patient. When setting
fees, the Diplomate/candidate will consider the
length of time he/she has been practicing in
this particular field, the amount of time
necessary to perform the service, the nature of
the patient’s condition, his/her professional
qualifications and experience, and other
relevant factors.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will make all appropriate
disclosures to patients and prospective patients
regarding any benefits paid to others for
recommending or referring his/her services.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will make all appropriate
disclosures to patients and prospective patients
regarding any benefits received for recommending
or referring the services of another individual.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will maintain and respect
the confidentiality of all patient information
obtained in the course of a professional
relationship, unless: the information
pertains to illegal activity, the patient
expressly directs the release of specific
information, or a court or government agency
lawfully directs the release of the information.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will respect and maintain
the privacy of his/her patients.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will not engage in any
criminal misconduct.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will not engage in any
sexual, physical, romantic, or otherwise
intimate conduct with a current patient, or with
a former patient within two years following the
termination of the patient relationship.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will not engage in conduct
involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or
misrepresentation in professional activities.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will not engage in unlawful
discrimination in professional activities.
- The
Diplomate/candidate will avoid any behavior
clearly in violation of accepted moral, ethical,
or legal standards that may compromise the
integrity of, or reflect negatively on, the
profession.
|
|
Popular Articles
|
