Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 645 - Professional Licensure Division › Chiropractic › Chapter 43 - Practice of Chiropractic Physicians › Rule 645-43.2 - Principles of Chiropractic Ethics

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
The following principles of chiropractic ethics are adopted
				  by the board for the practice of chiropractic in this state.
(1) These principles are intended to aid
				chiropractic physicians individually and collectively in maintaining a high
				level of ethical conduct. These are standards by which a chiropractic physician
				may determine the propriety of the chiropractic physician's conduct in the
				chiropractic physician's relationship with patients, with colleagues, with
				members of allied professions, and with the public.
(2) The principal objective of the
				chiropractic profession is to render service to humanity with full respect for
				the dignity of the person. Chiropractic physicians should merit the confidence
				of patients entrusted to their care, rendering to each a full measure of
				service and devotion.
(3)
				Chiropractic physicians should strive continually to improve chiropractic
				knowledge and skill, and should make available to their patients and colleagues
				the benefits of their professional attainments.
(4) A chiropractic physician should practice
				a method of healing founded on a scientific basis, and should not voluntarily
				associate professionally with anyone who violates this principle.
(5) The chiropractic profession should
				safeguard the public and itself against chiropractic physicians deficient in
				moral character or professional competence. Chiropractic physicians should
				observe all laws, uphold the dignity and honor of the profession and accept its
				self-imposed disciplines. They should expose, without hesitation, illegal or
				unethical conduct of fellow members of the profession.
(6) A chiropractic physician may choose whom
				to serve. In an emergency, however, services should be rendered to the best of
				the chiropractic physician's ability. Having undertaken the case of a patient,
				the chiropractic physician may not neglect the patient; and, unless the patient
				has been discharged, the chiropractic physician may discontinue services only
				after giving adequate notice.
(7) A
				chiropractic physician should not dispose of services under terms or conditions
				that tend to interfere with or impair the free and complete exercise of
				professional judgment and skill or tend to cause a deterioration of the quality
				of chiropractic care.
(8) A
				chiropractic physician should seek consultation upon request, in doubtful or
				difficult cases, or whenever it appears that the quality of chiropractic
				service may be enhanced thereby.
(9) A chiropractic physician may not reveal
				the confidences entrusted in the course of chiropractic attendance, or the
				deficiencies observed in the character of patients, unless required to do so by
				law or unless it becomes necessary in order to protect the welfare of the
				individual or of the community.
(10) The honored ideals of the chiropractic
				profession imply that the responsibilities of the chiropractic physician extend
				not only to the individual, but also to society where these responsibilities
				deserve interest and participation in activities that have the purpose of
				improving both the health and well-being of the individual and the
				community.