NJSHA Code of Ethics
(Revised, 2005)


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 speechlanguage and 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 New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NJSHA) 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 responsibility to persons served, to the public, to the conduct of research and scholarly activities and to speech-language pathologists, audiologists and speech-language and hearing scientists.

Principles of Ethics, aspirational and inspirational in nature, form the underlying moral basis for this 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 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 services competently.
2. Individuals shall use every resource, including referral 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 or ethnicity, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disabling condition.
4. Individuals who hold the appropriate professional credentials shall not delegate tasks that require the unique skills, knowledge and judgment that are within the scope of their profession to any nonprofessionals over whom they have supervisory responsibility. An individual may delegate support services to persons in the education or certification process, only if those services are supervised according to prescribed professional and regulated standards by an individual who holds the appropriate professional credentials.
5. Individuals shall not misrepresent the credentials of persons providing services and shall inform those they serve professionally of the name and professional credentials or the training and certification status of persons providing services.
6. Individuals shall fully inform the persons they serve of the nature and possible effects of services rendered and products dispensed and shall inform participants in research about the possible effects of their participation in research conducted.
7. 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.
8. Individuals shall not guarantee the results of any treatment or procedure, directly or by implication; however, they may make a reasonable statement of prognosis.
9. Individuals shall not provide clinical services solely by correspondence (for example, written, electronic).
10. Individuals may practice by telecommunication (for example, telehealth/e-health), where not prohibited by law.
11. Individuals shall adequately maintain and appropriately secure records of professional services rendered, research and scholarly activities conducted and products dispensed and shall allow access to these records only when authorized or required by law.
12. 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.
13. Individuals shall not charge for services not rendered, nor shall they misrepresent services rendered, products dispensed, or research and scholarly activities conducted.
14. Individuals shall use persons in research or as subjects of teaching demonstrations only with their informed consent.
15. 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

1. Individuals shall engage in the provision of clinical services only when they hold the appropriate license and/or certificate or when they are in the educational or certification process and are supervised by an individual who holds the appropriate license and/or certificate.
2. 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.
3. Individuals shall continue their professional development throughout their careers.
4. Individuals shall comply with the continuing education mandates required for licensure and/or certification maintenance.
5. Individuals shall delegate the provision of clinical services to: (1) persons who hold the appropriate license and/or certificate; (2) persons in the education or certification process who are appropriately supervised by an individual who holds the appropriate license and/or certificate.
6. 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.
7. Individuals shall ensure that all equipment used in the provision of services 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 accurate information in all communications involving any aspect of the profession.

RULES OF ETHICS

1. Individuals shall not misrepresent their credentials, competence, education, training experience, or scholarly or research contributions.
2. Individuals shall not participate in professional activities that constitute a conflict of interest.
3. Individuals shall refer those served professionally solely on the basis of the interest of those being referred and not on any personal financial interest.
4. Individuals shall not misrepresent diagnostic/treatment/progress information, research, services rendered or products dispensed; neither shall they engage in any scheme to defraud in connection with obtaining payment or reimbursement for such services and products.
5. 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
6. 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 their professions and their relationships with colleagues, clinical fellows, 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

1. Individuals shall prohibit anyone under their supervision from engaging in any practice that violates this Code of Ethics.
2. 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.
3. Individuals shall not engage in sexual activities with clients or students over whom they exercise professional authority.
4. 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.
5. Individuals shall reference the source when using other persons’ ideas, research results and products in written, oral or any other media presentation or summary.
6. Individuals' statements to colleagues about professional services, research results and products shall adhere to prevailing professional standards and shall contain no misrepresentations.
7. Individuals shall not provide professional services without exercising independent professional judgment, regardless of referral source of prescription.
8. Individuals shall not discriminate in their relationships with colleagues, clinical fellows, students and members of allied professions on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disabling condition.