Code of Ethics of the Kansas Speech-Language Hearing Association

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, and hearing scientists. This Code of Ethics sets forth the fundamental principles and rules considered essential to this purpose.
Every individual who is of the membership of the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association shall abide by this Code of Ethics.
Any violation of the spirit and purpose 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 responsibility to persons served, to the public, and to speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists, and to the conduct of research and scholarly activities.
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 are specific statements of minimally acceptable professional conduct or of prohibitions and are applicable to all individuals.
 

PRINCIPLE OF ETHICS I

Individuals shall honor their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they serve professionally or who are participants in research and scholarly activities and shall treat animals involved in research in a humane manner.

RULES OF ETHICS

1. Individuals shall provide all clinical services and scientific activities competently.

2. Individuals shall use every resource, including referral and/or interprofessional collaboration when appropriate, to ensure that high-quality service is provided.

3. Individuals shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or the conduct of research and scholarly activities on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, ethnicity, disability, culture, language, or dialect.

4. Individuals shall not misrepresent the credentials of aides, assistants, technicians, support personnel, students, research interns, Clinical Fellows, or any others under their supervision and they shall inform those they serve professionally of the name, role, and professional credentials of persons providing services.

5. Individuals who are licensed by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Health Occupations Credentialing, (KDADS-HOC) shall not delegate tasks that require the unique skills, knowledge, and judgment, or credentials that are within the scope of their profession to aides, assistants, technicians, support personnel, or any non-professionals over whom they have supervisory responsibility.

6. Individuals who are licensed by KDADS-HOC may delegate tasks related to the provision of clinical services to aids, assistants, technicians, support personnel, or any other persons only if those services are adequately prepared and are appropriately supervised.  The responsibility for the welfare of those being served remains with the licensed individual.

7. Individuals who are licensed by KDADS-HOC may delegate to students tasks related to provision of clinical services that require unique skills, knowledge, and judgment that are within the scope of practice of their profession only if those students are adequately prepared and are appropriately supervised.  The responsibility for the welfare of those being served remains with the licensed individual.

8. Individuals shall obtain informed consent from the persons they serve about the nature and possible risks and effects of services provided, technology employed, and products dispensed.  This obligation also includes informing persons served about possible effects of not engaging in treatment or not following clinical recommendations.  If diminished decision-making ability of persons served is suspected, individuals should seek appropriate authorization for services, such as authorization from a spouse, other family member, or legally authorized/appointed representative.

9. Individuals who are licensed by KDADS-HOC shall evaluate the effectiveness of services provided, technology employed and products dispensed, and they shall provide services or dispense products only when benefit can reasonably be expected.

10. Individuals shall accurately represent the intended purpose of a service, product, or research endeavor and shall abide by established guidelines for clinical practice and the responsible conduct of research.

11. Individuals may make a reasonable statement of prognosis, but they shall not guarantee – directly or by implication – the results of any treatment or procedure.

12. Individuals who are licensed by KDADS-HOC shall not provide clinical services solely by correspondence, but may provide services via telepractice consistent with professional standards and state and federal regulations.

13. Individuals shall maintain timely records and accurately record and bill for services provided and products dispensed and shall not misrepresent services provided, products dispensed, or research and scholarly activities conducted.

14. Individuals shall protect the confidentiality and security of records of professional services provided, research and scholarly activities conducted, and products dispensed.  Access to these records shall be allowed only when doing so is necessary to protect the welfare of the person or of the community, is legally authorized, or is otherwise required by law.

15. Individuals shall protect the confidentiality of any professional or personal information about persons served professionally or participants involved in research and scholarly activities and may disclose confidential information only when doing so is necessary to protect the welfare of the person or of the community is legally authorized, or is otherwise required by law.

16. Individuals shall enroll and include persons as participants in research or as subjects of teaching demonstrations only if their participation is voluntary, without coercion, and with their informed consent.

17. Individuals whose professional services are adversely affected by substance abuse, addiction or other health-related conditions are impaired practitioners and shall seek professional assistance and, where appropriate, withdraw from the affected areas of practice.

18. Individuals who have knowledge that a colleague is unable to provide professional services with reasonable skill and safety shall report this information to the appropriate authority, internally if a mechanism exists and, otherwise, externally.

19. Individuals shall provide reasonable notice and information about alternatives for obtaining care in the event that they can no longer provide professional services.

20. Individuals who are licensed by KDADS-HOC who hold the shall use independent and evidence-based clinical judgment, keeping paramount the best interests of those being served.

 

PRINCIPLE OF ETHICS II

Individuals shall honor their responsibility to achieve and maintain the highest level of professional competence and performance.

RULES OF ETHICS

1. Individuals who are licensed by KDADS-HOC shall engage in only those aspects of the professions that are within the scope of their professional practice and competence, considering their certification status, education, training, and experience.

2. Individuals who do not hold a current state license may not engage in the provision of clinical services; however, individuals who hold temporary licensure may engage in the provision of clinical services consistent with current local and state laws and regulations.

3. Individuals shall enhance and refine their professional competence and expertise through engagement in lifelong learning applicable to their professional activities and skills.

4. Individuals in administrative or supervisory roles shall not require or permit their professional staff to provide services or conduct research activities that exceed the staff member’s certification status, competence, education, training, and experience.

5. Individuals in administrative or supervisory roles shall not require or permit their professional staff to provide services or conduct clinical activities that compromise the staff member’s independent and objective professional judgment.

6. Individuals shall ensure that all equipment used to provide services or to conduct research and scholarly activities is in proper working order and is properly calibrated.

7. Individuals shall make use of technology and instrumentation consistent with accepted professional guidelines in their area of practice.  When such technology is not available, an appropriate referral may be made.

8. Individuals who engage in research shall comply with all institutional, state, and federal regulations that address any aspects of research, including those that involve human participation and animals.

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 the dissemination of research findings and scholarly activities and the promotion, marketing, and advertising of products and services.

RULES OF ETHICS

1. Individuals shall not misrepresent their credentials, competence, education, training, experience and scholarly or research contributions.

2. Individuals shall avoid engaging in conflicts of interest whereby personal, financial, or other considerations have the potential to influence or compromise professional judgment and objectivity.

3. Individuals shall not misrepresent research and scholarly activities, diagnostic information, services provided, results of services provided, products dispensed, or the effects of products dispensed.

4. Individuals shall not defraud through intent, ignorance, or negligence or engage in any scheme to defraud in connection with obtaining payment, reimbursement, or grants and contracts for services rendered, research conducted, or products dispensed.

5. Individuals’ statements to the public shall provide accurate and complete information about the nature and management of communication disorders, about the professions, about professional services, about products for sale, and about research and scholarly activities.

6. Individuals’ statements to the public when advertising, announcing, and marketing their professional services, reporting research results, and promoting products shall adhere to professional standards and shall not contain misrepresentations. 

7. Individuals shall not knowingly make false financial or nonfinancial statements and shall complete all materials honestly and without omission.

 

PRINCIPLE OF ETHICS IV

Individuals shall honor their responsibilities to the professions and their relationships with colleagues, students, and members of other professions and disciplines.

RULES OF ETHICS

1. Individuals shall uphold the dignity and autonomy of the professions, maintain harmonious interprofessional and intraprofessional relationships, and accept the professions’ self-imposed standards.
2. Individuals shall not knowingly allow anyone under their supervision to engaging in any practice that violates the Code of Ethics.
3. Individuals shall not engage in dishonesty, negligence, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
4. Individuals shall not engage in any form of harassment, including sexual harassment or power abuse.
5. Individuals shall not engage any other form of conduct that adversely reflects on the professions or on the individual’s fitness to serve persons professionally.
6. Individuals shall not engage in sexual activities with individuals (other than a spouse or other individual with whom a prior consensual relationship exists) over whom they exercise professional authority or power, including persons receiving services, assistants, students, or research participants.
7. 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.
8. Individuals shall reference the source when using other persons’ ideas, research, presentations, results, or products in written, oral, or any other media presentation or summary.  To do otherwise constitutes plagiarism.
9. Individuals’ statements to colleagues about professional services, research results, and products shall adhere to prevailing professional standards and shall contain no misrepresentations.
10. Individuals shall exercise independent professional judgment in recommending and providing professional services when an administrative mandate, referral source, or prescription prevents keeping the welfare of the persons served paramount.
11. Individuals shall not discriminate in their relationships with colleagues, assistants, students, support personnel, and members of other professions and disciplines on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, ethnicity, disability, culture, language, dialect, or socioeconomic status.
12. Individuals shall not file or encourage others to file complaints that disregard or ignore facts that would disprove the allegation, nor should the Code of Ethics be used for personal reprisal, as a means of addressing personal animosity, or as a vehicle for retaliation.
13. Individuals who have reason to believe that the Code of Ethics has been violated shall inform the member’s certifying Board of Ethics when appropriate.
14. Individuals shall report members of other professions who they know have violated standards of care to the appropriate professional licensing authority or board, other professional regulatory body, or professional association when such violation compromises the welfare of persons served and/or research participants.
15. Individuals shall comply fully with the policies of KDADS-HOC (see Kansas Administrative Procedure Act in the Kansas Statute) and/or the member’s certifying Board of Ethics in its consideration and adjudication of complaints of violations of the Code of Ethics.
16. Individuals making and responding to complaints shall comply fully and truthfully with the policies of the member’s certifying Board of Ethics and/or the KDADS-HOC licensure board in its consideration, adjudication, and resolution of complaints of alleged violations of the KSHA and certifying board’s Code of Ethics.
17. Individuals shall work collaboratively, when appropriate, with members of one’s own profession and/or members of other professions to deliver the highest quality of care.
18. Applicants for certification or membership, and individuals making disclosures, shall not knowingly make false statements and shall complete all application and disclosure materials honestly and without omission.
19. Individuals shall comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations applicable to professional practice, research ethics, and the responsible conduct of research.
20. Individuals who have been convicted; been found guilty; or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to (1) any misdemeanor involving dishonesty, physical harm – or the threat of physical harm – to the person or property of another, or (2) any felony, shall self-report by notifying the member’s certifying board’s Standards and Ethics and/or KDADS HOC in writing within 30 days of the conviction, plea, or finding of guilt.  Individuals shall also provide a certified copy of the conviction, plea, nolo contendere record, or docket entry to the member’s certifying board’s Standards and Ethics and/or KDADS-HOC within 30 days of self-reporting.  
21. Individuals who have been publicly sanctioned or denied a license or a professional credential by any professional association, professional licensing authority or board, or other professional regulatory body shall self-report by notifying the member’s certifying board’s Standards and Ethics in writing within 30 days of the final action or disposition.  Individuals shall also provide a certified copy of the final action, sanction, or disposition to the certifying board’s Standards and Ethics within 30 days of self-reporting.

[This code of Ethics is based upon the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Code of Ethics.]