Missouri Code of State Regulations › Title 20 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE › Division 2150 - State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts › Chapter 9 - Licensing of Anesthesiologist Assistants › Section 20 CSR 2150-9.130 - Code of Ethics of the Anesthesiologist Assistant Profession

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 14, July 15, 2024
PURPOSE: The following principles delineate the
				  standards governing the conduct of anesthesiologist assistants in their
				  professional interactions with patients, colleagues, other health professionals
				  and the general public. While no code can encompass all ethical
				  responsibilities of an anesthesiologist assistant, this enumeration of
				  obligations in the Code of Ethics is not comprehensive and does not constitute
				  a denial of the existence of other obligations, equally imperative, though not
				  specifically mentioned. The anesthesiologist assistant is unique in that he or
				  she is educated as a member of a team and not as an autonomous professional.
				  The physician, not the anesthesiologist assistant, assumes ultimate
				  responsibility for decisions regarding care of the patient. In this
				  relationship, it is possible that ethical principles of the anesthesiologist
				  assistant may sometimes differ from those of the supervising physician. The
				  following principles are intended as guidelines to be used as a resource when
				  trying to decide the morally proper behavior in a given situation. The
				  anesthesiologist assistant should demonstrate respect for the dignity and
				  individuality of his or her patients, colleagues, and other members of the
				  health professions. Above all the anesthesiologist assistant must maintain the
				  utmost respect for human life.
(1) Anesthesiologist assistants shall:
(A) Be committed to providing competent
				medical care, assuming as their primary responsibility the health, safety,
				welfare, and dignity of all patients;
(B) Deliver needed health care services to
				patients without regard to sex, age, race, creed, socioeconomic and political
				status, or sexual orientation;
(C)
				Adhere to all state and federal laws governing informed consent concerning the
				patient's health care;
(D) Seek
				consultation with their supervising physician, other health providers, or
				qualified professionals having special skills, knowledge or experience whenever
				the welfare of the patient will be safeguarded or advanced by such
				consultation. Supervision should include ongoing communication between the
				physician and the anesthesiologist assistant regarding the care of all
				patients;
(E) Take personal
				responsibility for being familiar with and adhering to all federal/state laws
				applicable to the practice of their profession;
(F) Provide only those services for which
				they are qualified via education and/or experience and by pertinent legal
				regulatory process;
(G) Not
				misrepresent in any manner, either directly or indirectly, their skills,
				training, professional credentials, identity, or services;
(H) Uphold the doctrine of confidentiality
				regarding privileged patient information, unless required to release such
				information by law or such information becomes necessary to protect the welfare
				of the patient or the community;
(I) Strive to maintain and increase the
				quality of individual health care service through individual study and
				continuing education;
(J) Have the
				duty to respect the law, to uphold the dignity of the profession and to accept
				its ethical principles. Anesthesiologist assistants shall not participate in or
				conceal any activity that will bring discredit or dishonor to the
				anesthesiologist assistants profession and shall expose, without fear or favor,
				any illegal or unethical conduct in the medical profession;
(K) Use the knowledge and experience acquired
				as professionals to contribute to an improved community; and
(L) Place service before material gain and
				must carefully guard against conflicts of professional interest.