Current through Vol. 41, No. 13, March 15, 2024
Six Principles serve as a basis for the ethical evaluation of professional conduct and form the underlying moral basis for the Code of Ethics. Individuals subscribing to this Code shall observe these principals as affirmative obligations under all conditions of professional activity.
(1) Licensees shall hold paramount the welfare of persons served professionally.
(A) Licensees shall use every resource available, including referral to other specialists as needed, to provide the best service possible.
(B) Licensees shall fully inform persons served of the nature and possible effects of the service.
(C) Licensees' fees shall be commensurate with services rendered.
(D) Licensees shall provide appropriate access to records of persons served professionally.
(E) Licensees shall take all reasonable precautions to avoid injuring person in the delivery of professional services.
(F) Licensees shall evaluate services rendered to determine effectiveness.
(G) Licensees shall not practice while impaired due to mental or physical health conditions or the use of alcohol or other substances. Impaired means the licensee is unable to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety.
(2) Licensees shall maintain high standards of professional competence.
(A) Licensees engaging in clinical practice shall possess appropriate qualifications as defined in the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Licensing Act. 59 O.S. 1601, et. seq., as amended, and this Title.
(B) Licensees shall continue their professional development throughout their careers.
(C) Licensees shall identify competent, dependable referral sources for persons served professionally.
(D) Licensees shall maintain adequate records of professional services rendered.
(3) Licensees' statements to persons served professionally and to the public shall provide accurate information about the nature and management of communicative disorders and about the profession and services rendered by its practitioners.
(4) Licensees shall maintain objectivity in all matters concerning the welfare of persons served professionally. Licensees shall observe the following standards:
(A) Products associated with professional practice must be dispensed to the person served as a part of a program of comprehensive habilitative care.
(B) Fees established for professional services must be independent of whether a product is dispensed.
(C) Persons served must be provided freedom of choice for the source of services and products.
(D) Price information about professional services rendered and products dispensed must be made available to the person served upon request and must include a complete schedule of fees and charges which schedule differentiates between fees for professional services and charges for products.
(E) Products dispensed to the person served must be evaluated to determine effectiveness.
(5) Licensees shall honor their responsibilities to the public, their profession, and their relationships with colleagues and members of allied professions.
(6) Licensees shall uphold the dignity of the profession and its standards.
(A) Licensees shall inform the Board of violations of this Code of Ethics.
(B) Licensees shall cooperate fully with Board inquiries into matters of professional conduct related to this Code of Ethics.
Amended at 18 Ok Reg 1794, eff 5-25-01; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1122, eff 5-13-04; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 2120, eff 7-11-11
