Preamble
The preservation of the highest standards of integrity and ethical principles is vital to the responsible discharge of obligations in the profession of audiology. This Code of Ethics sets forth the fundamental principles and rules considered essential to this purpose.
Rules of Ethics are specific statements of minimally acceptable professional conduct or of prohibitions.
Every individual who is (a) a life member, (b) a full member, (c) an associate member, or (d) a student member of the Hong Kong Society of Audiology shall abide by this Code of Ethics.
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, and to the profession of audiology. Any action that violates 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.
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.
Principle of Ethics I
Individuals shall honour their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they serve professionally.
Rules of Ethics
- A. Individuals shall use every resource, including referral when appropriate, to ensure that high quality service is provided. Individuals shall not accept benefits or items of personal value for receiving or making referrals.
- Individuals shall not compromise the right of persons they serve to freely choose the source of services rendered and products dispensed.
- Individuals shall not limit the delivery of professional services on any basis that is unjustifiable or irrelevant to the need for the potential benefit from such services.
- Individuals shall not misrepresent their educational degrees, training, credentials, or competence.
- Individuals shall fully inform the persons they serve of the nature and possible effects of services rendered and products dispensed.
- Individuals shall provide only services and products that are in the best interest of those served.
- 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. Individuals shall not continue treatment unnecessarily.
- Individuals shall exercise all reasonable precautions to avoid injury to persons in the delivery of professional services.
- Individuals shall not guarantee the results of any treatment or procedure, directly or by implication: however, they may make a reasonable statement of prognosis.
- Individuals shall not provide clinical services solely by correspondence. Products associated with professional practice must be dispensed to the client as part of a program of comprehensive re/habilitative care.
- Individuals shall maintain adequate records of professional services rendered and products dispensed and shall allow access to these records when appropriately authorised.
- Individuals shall not reveal, without authorization, any professional or personal information about the person served professionally, unless required by law to do so, or unless doing so is necessary to protect the welfare of the person or of the community.
- Individuals shall not charge for services not rendered.
- Fees established for professional services must be independent of whether a product is dispensed.
- Individuals shall inform those served of professional fees and charges in advance of rendering services or dispensing products.
- Individuals shall use persons in research or as subjects of teaching demonstrations only with their informed consent. Such persons shall reserve the right to withdraw from these activities at any time.
- 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
- Individuals shall engage in the provision of clinical services only when they hold the appropriate qualification or when they are in the qualification process, and are supervised by an individual who holds the appropriate qualification.
- Individuals shall delegate the provision of clinical services only to those persons who are qualified. Individuals shall provide appropriate supervision and assume full responsibility for services delegated to persons who are neither qualified or in the qualification process.
- 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.
- Individual shall continue their professional development throughout their careers.
- Individuals shall prohibit any of their professional staff from providing services that exceed the staff member’s competence, considering the staff member’s level of education, training, and experience.
- Individuals shall ensure that all equipment used in the provision of services is in proper working order and is properly calibrated.
Principal 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.
Rule of Ethics
- Individuals in private practice shall display proof of their qualifications at the place of business.
- Individuals shall not participate in professional activities that constitute a conflict of interest.
- Individuals shall refer those served professionally solely on the basis of the interest of those being referred and not on any personal financial interest.
- Individuals shall not misrepresent diagnostic information, services rendered, or products dispensed or engage in any scheme or artifice to defraud in connection with obtaining payment or reimbursement for such services or products.
- Individuals’ statements to the public shall provide accurate information about the nature and management of hearing and balance disorders, about the professions, and about professional services.
- 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.
- Individuals should educate the public about hearing and balance disorders, and matters related to professional competence.
Principle of Ethics IV
Individuals shall honour 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 interprofessional and intraprofessional relationships, and accept the professionals’ self-imposed standards.
Rules of Ethics
- Individuals shall prohibit any of their professional staff from engaging in any practice that violates the Code of Ethics.
- 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.
- Individuals shall not engage in sexual activities with clients or students over whom they exercise professional authority.
- 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.
- Individuals shall reference the source when using other persons’ ideas, research presentations, or products in written, oral, or any other media presentation or summary.
- Individuals’ statement to colleagues about professional services, research results, and products shall adhere to prevailing professional standards and shall contain no misrepresentations.
- Individuals shall not provide professional services without exercising independent professional judgement, regardless of referral source or prescription.
- Individuals shall not discriminate in their relationships with colleagues, students, and member of allied professions on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or general health.
- Individuals shall not make any public statements claiming any superiority for the member or any or all other members.
- Individuals who have reason to believe that the Code of Ethics has been violated shall inform the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Society of Audiology.
- Individuals shall comply fully with the policies of the Hong Kong Society of Audiology in its consideration and adjudication of complaints of violations of the Code of Ethics.