Code of Maine Rules
02 - DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION
643 - BOARD OF SPEECH, AUDIOLOGY AND HEARING
Chapter 11 - CODE OF ETHICS
Section 643-11-2 - Principle of Ethics I

1. Licensees shall provide all services competently.

2. Licensees shall use every resource, including referral when appropriate, to ensure that high-quality service is provided.

3. Licensees shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.

4. Licensees shall not misrepresent the credentials of speech-language pathology assistants, students, Clinical Fellows, trainee hearing aid dealers and fitters or any others under their supervision, and they shall inform those they serve professionally of the name and professional credentials of persons providing services.

5. Licensees shall not delegate tasks that require the unique skills, knowledge and judgment that are within the scope of their profession to speech-language pathology assistants, trainee hearing aid dealers and fitters or any nonprofessionals over whom they have supervisory responsibility.

6. Licensees may delegate tasks related to provision of clinical services that require the unique skills, knowledge and judgment that are within the scope of practice of their profession to students only if those services are appropriately supervised. The responsibility for client welfare remains with the licensee.

7. Licensees may delegate tasks related to provision of clinical services to speech-language pathology assistants or trainee hearing aid dealers and fitters only if those services are appropriately supervised, realizing that the responsibility for client welfare remains with the licensee.

8. Licensees shall fully inform the persons they serve of the nature and possible effects of services rendered and products dispensed, and they shall inform participants in research about the possible effects of their participation in research conducted..

9. Licensees 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.

10. Licensees shall not guarantee the results of any treatment or procedure, directly or by implication; however, they may make a reasonable statement of prognosis.

11. Licensees shall not evaluate or treat speech, language, or hearing disorders solely by correspondence.

12. Licensees shall adequately maintain and appropriately secure records of professional services rendered and products dispensed, and they shall allow access to these records only when authorized or when required by law.

13. Licensees shall not reveal, without authorization, any professional or personal information about identified persons served professionally or identified persons involved in research and scholarly activities unless doing so is necessary to protect the welfare of the person or of the community or is otherwise required by law.

14. Licensees shall not charge for services not rendered, nor shall they misrepresent1, in any fashion, services rendered, products dispensed, or research and scholarly activities conducted.

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

1 For purposes of this Code of Ethics, misrepresentation includes any untrue statements or statements that are likely to mislead. Misrepresentation also includes the failure to state any information that is material and that ought, in fairness, to be considered.

16. Licensees 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.