Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 46 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS › Part LXXV - Speech Pathology and Audiology › Chapter 7 - Code of Ethics › Section LXXV-701 - Preamble

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. The Code of
				Ethics of the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and
				Audiology specifies professional standards that govern clinical and scientific
				practice, direct professional conduct, provide for proper implementation of
				professionals' responsibilities to those served, and ensure the welfare of the
				consumer.
B. Any action that
				violates the intent and purpose of this code shall be considered unethical.
				Although the Code of Ethics cannot be inclusive of all specific situations,
				failure to delineate any particular responsibility or practice in this Code of
				Ethics shall not be construed as denial of the existence of such
				responsibilities or practices.
C.
				Principles of ethics form the underlying moral basis for the Code of Ethics.
				Individuals shall observe these principles as affirmative obligations under all
				conditions of professional activity.
D. Rules of ethics are specific statements of
				minimally acceptable as well as unacceptable professional conduct which are
				applicable to all individuals.
E.
				Rules of Ethics for Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, Provisional
				Speech-Language Pathology, and Restricted Speech-Language Pathology Licensees
1. Principle of Ethics I. Licensees shall
				honor their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they serve
				professionally or who are participants in research and scholarly activities,
				provide professional services with honesty and compassion, and respect the
				rights of those served. The licensee shall take all reasonable precautions to
				avoid harm to the individual served professionally.
a. Individuals shall provide all clinical
				services and scientific activities competently.
b. Individuals shall use every resource,
				including interprofessional collaboration and referral when applicable, to
				ensure that appropriate service is provided.
c. Individuals shall not discriminate in the
				delivery of professional services or in the conduct of research and scholarly
				activities on the basis of race, ethnicity, citizenship, sex, gender
				identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin,
				disability, culture, language, or dialect.
d. Individuals shall not misrepresent their
				credentials nor those under their supervision including aides, assistants,
				technicians, other support personnel, students, research interns, or
				individuals completing the postgraduate professional employment/experience, and
				they shall fully inform those they serve professionally of the name, role, and
				credentials of persons providing services.
e. Individuals may delegate tasks related to
				the provision of clinical services to students, aides, assistants, technicians,
				or other support personnel only if those persons are adequately trained and
				appropriately supervised. The responsibility for the welfare of those served
				remains with the fully licensed individual.
f. Individuals shall not delegate tasks that
				require the unique skills, knowledge, judgment or credentials that are within
				the scope of practice of their profession to aides, assistants, technicians,
				other support personnel or nonprofessionals over whom they have supervisory
				authority.
g. Individuals shall
				obtain consent from the persons they serve only after a description of and
				discussion about the nature and possible risks and effects of services to be
				rendered, technology to be employed, and products to be dispensed. Consumers
				shall also be informed about possible effects of not engaging in treatment or
				following clinical recommendations. When the consumer is incapable of providing
				informed consent, individuals should seek authorization from a legally
				authorized/appointed representative or family member.
h. Individuals shall enroll and include
				persons as participants in research only if participation is voluntary, without
				coercion, and with informed consent.
i. Individuals shall accurately represent the
				intended purpose of a service, product, or research endeavor and shall abide by
				established standards for clinical practice and the responsible conduct of
				research.
j. Individuals shall
				evaluate the effectiveness of services rendered, technology employed, and
				products dispensed and shall provide services or dispense products only when
				benefit can reasonably be expected.
k. Individuals shall not guarantee, directly
				or by implication, the results of any treatment or procedure; however, they may
				make a reasonable statement of prognosis.
l. Individuals shall use independent and
				evidence based clinical judgment, keeping paramount the welfare of those
				served.
m. Individuals shall not
				provide clinical services solely by correspondence but may provide services via
				telepractice consistent with professional standards and state and federal
				regulations.
n. Individuals shall
				protect the confidentiality of any professional or personal information about
				persons served professionally or participants involved in research and
				scholarly activities, and may disclose confidential information only when doing
				so is necessary to protect the welfare of the person or of the community, is
				legally authorized, or is otherwise required by law.
o. Individuals shall protect the
				confidentiality and security of records of professional services rendered,
				research and scholarly activities conducted, and products dispensed. Access to
				these records shall be allowed only when doing so is necessary to protect the
				welfare of the person or of the community, is legally authorized, or is
				otherwise required by law.
p.
				Individuals shall maintain timely records and accurately record and bill for
				services provided and products dispensed, and shall not misrepresent services
				rendered, products dispensed, or research and scholarly activities
				conducted.
q. Individuals whose
				professional practice is adversely affected by substance abuse or other
				health-related conditions are impaired practitioners and shall seek
				professional assistance and, where appropriate, withdraw from the affected
				areas of practice.
r. Individuals
				who have knowledge a practitioner is unable to provide professional services
				with reasonable skill and safety shall report this information to the
				appropriate authority including the licensure board.
s. Individuals shall provide reasonable
				notice and information about alternatives for obtaining care in the event that
				the individual can no longer provide professional services.