Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 46 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS
Part LXIX - Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists
Chapter 1 - Dietitians/Nutritionists
Section LXIX-117 - Code of Ethics for Professional Conduct (Formerly section 113)

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code LXIX-117

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 3, March 20, 2024

A. Licensees under the Act shall perform their professional duties using the code of ethics adopted by the Board.

B. The Board has adopted the following Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

1. Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession as published: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2018; 1118 (9): 1765-1767.

Principles and Standards:

1. Competence and professional development in practice (Non-maleficence) Nutrition and dietetics practitioners shall:
a. Practice using an evidence-based approach within areas of competence, continuously develop and enhance expertise, and recognize limitations.

b. Demonstrate in depth scientific knowledge of food, human nutrition and behavior.

c. Assess the validity and applicability of scientific evidence without personal bias.

d. Interpret, apply, participate in and/or generate research to enhance practice, innovation, and discovery.

e. Make evidence-based practice decisions, taking into account the unique values and circumstances of the patient/client and community, in combination with the practitioner's expertise and judgment.

f. Recognize and exercise professional judgment within the limits of individual qualifications and collaborate with others, seek counsel, and make referrals as appropriate.

g. Act in a caring and respectful manner, mindful of individual differences, cultural, and ethnic diversity.

h. Practice within the limits of their scope and collaborate with the inter-professional team.

2. Integrity in personal and organizational behaviors and practices (Autonomy) Nutrition and dietetics practitioners shall:
a. Disclose any conflicts of interest, including any financial interests in products or services that are recommended. Refrain from accepting gifts or services which potentially influence or which may give the appearance of influencing professional judgment.

b. Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including obtaining/maintaining a state license or certification if engaged in practice governed by nutrition and dietetics statutes.

c. Maintain and appropriately use credentials.

d. Respect intellectual property rights, including citation and recognition of the ideas and work of others, regardless of the medium (e.g. written, oral, electronic).

e. Provide accurate and truthful information in all communications.

f. Report inappropriate behavior or treatment of a patient/client by another nutrition and dietetics practitioner or other professionals.

g. Document, code and bill to most accurately reflect the character and extent of delivered services.

h. Respect patient/client's autonomy. Safeguard patient/client confidentiality according to current regulations and laws.

i. Implement appropriate measures to protect personal health information using appropriate techniques (e.g., encryption).

3. Professionalism (Beneficence) Nutrition and dietetics practitioners shall:
a. Participate in and contribute to decisions that affect the well-being of patients/clients.

b. Respect the values, rights, knowledge, and skills of colleagues and other professionals.

c. Demonstrate respect, constructive dialogue, civility and professionalism in all communications, including social media.

d. Refrain from communicating false, fraudulent, deceptive, misleading, disparaging or unfair statements or claims.

e. Uphold professional boundaries and refrain from romantic relationships with any patients/clients, surrogates, supervisees, or students.

f. Refrain from verbal/physical/emotional/ sexual harassment.

g. Provide objective evaluations of performance for employees, coworkers, and students and candidates for employment, professional association memberships, awards, or scholarships, making all reasonable efforts to avoid bias in the professional evaluation of others.

h. Communicate at an appropriate level to promote health literacy.

i. Contribute to the advancement and competence of others, including colleagues, students, and the public.

4. Social responsibility for local, regional, national, global nutrition and well-being (Justice)

Nutrition and dietetics practitioners shall:

a. Collaborate with others to reduce health disparities and protect human rights.

b. Promote fairness and objectivity with fair and equitable treatment.

c. Contribute time and expertise to activities that promote respect, integrity, and competence of the profession.

d. Promote the unique role of nutrition and dietetics practitioners.

e. Engage in service that benefits the community and to enhance the public's trust in the profession.

f. Seek leadership opportunities in professional, community, and service organizations to enhance health and nutritional status while protecting the public.

Glossary of Terms:

Autonomy: ensures a patient, client, or professional has the capacity and self-determination to engage in individual decisionmaking specific to personal health or practice.

Beneficence: encompasses taking positive steps to benefit others, which includes balancing benefit and risk.

Competence: a principle of professional practice, identifying the ability of the provider to administer safe and reliable services on a consistent basis.

Conflict(s) of Interest(s): defined as a personal or financial interest or a duty to another party which may prevent a person from acting in the best interests of the intended beneficiary, including simultaneous membership on boards with potentially conflicting interests related to the profession, members or the public.

Customer: any client, patient, resident, participant, student, consumer, individual/person, group, population, or organization to which the nutrition and dietetics practitioner provides service.

Diversity: "The Academy values and respects the diverse viewpoints and individual differences of all people. The Academy's mission and vision are most effectively realized through the promotion of a diverse membership that reflects cultural, ethnic, gender, racial, religious, sexual orientation, socioeconomic, geographical, political, educational, experiential and philosophical characteristics of the public it services. The Academy actively identifies and offers opportunities to individuals with varied skills, talents, abilities, ideas, disabilities, backgrounds and practice expertise."

Evidence-based Practice: Evidence-based practice is an approach to health care wherein health practitioners use the best evidence possible, i.e., the most appropriate information available, to make decisions for individuals, groups and populations. Evidence-based practice values, enhances and builds on clinical expertise, knowledge of disease mechanisms, and pathophysiology. It involves complex and conscientious decision-making based not only on the available evidence but also on client characteristics, situations, and preferences. It recognizes that health care is individualized and ever changing and involves uncertainties and probabilities. Evidence-based practice incorporates successful strategies that improve client outcomes and are derived from various sources of evidence including research, national guidelines, policies, consensus statements, systematic analysis of clinical experience, quality improvement data, specialized knowledge and skills of experts.

Justice (social justice): supports fair, equitable, and appropriate treatment for individuals and fair allocation of resources.

Non-Maleficence: is the intent to not inflict harm.

C. All licensees shall be responsible for reporting any and all alleged misrepresentation or violation of the code of ethics and/or Board rules to the Board.

D. A failure to adhere to the above code of ethics, constitutes unprofessional conduct and a violation of lawful rules and regulations adopted by the Board and further constitutes grounds for disciplinary action specified in R.S. 37:3090 of the Dietitian/Nutritionist Practice Act and these rules and regulations and also constitutes grounds for a denial of licensure or a renewal of licensure.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:3081-3093 and R.S. 36:259(Q).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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