Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 609 - STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY
Chapter 609-4 - PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Rule 609-4-.03 - Welfare of Clients

(1) Licensees shall hold paramount the welfare of persons served professionally.

(2) Licensees shall fully inform persons served of the nature and possible effects of the services.

(3) Licensees shall take all reasonable precautions to avoid injuring persons in the delivery of professional services.

(4) Licensees shall charge only for services rendered and shall provide itemized statements for charges for goods dispensed and services provided to the consumer. Nothing in this Rule shall preclude requests to the consumer for prepayment of fees for service as long as fees are refunded for services not rendered. This Rule shall also not preclude requests for appointment deposit charges when the consumer has received prior notification of this charge policy.

(5) Licensees shall fully inform subjects participating in research or teaching activities of the nature and possible effects of these activities.

(6) Licensees shall afford persons used in teaching or research free choice to participate and shall protect their privacy.

(7) Licensees shall evaluate services rendered and products dispensed to determine effectiveness based on recognized standards of practice.

(8) Licensees shall accept persons for treatment for whom reasonable benefit can be expected.

(9) Licensees shall continue treatment to clients as long as reasonable benefit is demonstrated.

(10) Licensees shall provide reasonable statements of prognosis to clients without guaranteeing the results of any therapeutic procedures, directly or by implication.

(11) Licensees shall evaluate or treat speech, language or hearing disorders exclusively within the confines of a professional relationship.

(12) Licensees shall avoid evaluating or treating speech, language or hearing disorders solely by correspondence. This does not preclude follow-up correspondence with persons previously seen, nor providing them with general information of an educational nature.

(13) Licensees shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services on any basis that is unjustifiable or irrelevant to the need for the potential benefit from such services, such as race, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or handicapping condition.

(14) Licensees shall avoid participation in activities that constitute a conflict of professional interest.

(15) Licensees shall reveal professional or personal information obtained from the person served professionally only a) if authorized by the person served, b) if required by law or, c) to protect the welfare of the person or the community.

(16) Licensees shall provide to clients information relating to products dispensed, including but not limited to any applicable warranties or guarantees, whether the product is new or used, and, if the product is sold or leased, a receipt indicating the price of the product and the amount paid or terms and conditions of payment.