Indiana Administrative Code › Title 845 - BOARD OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE › Article 1 - PODIATRISTS › Rule 6 - Standards of Professional Conduct › Section 6-1 - Standards of professional conduct and practice

Current through July 10, 2024
Authority: IC 25-29-1-3
Affected: IC 25-29
Sec. 1.
A podiatrist shall:
(a) Maintain the confidentiality of all
				knowledge and information regarding a patient, including, but not limited to,
				the patient's diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, and of all records relating
				thereto, about which the podiatrist may learn or otherwise be informed during
				the course of, or as a result of, the patient-practitioner relationship.
				Information about a patient shall be disclosed by a podiatrist when required by
				law, including, but not limited to, the requirements of IC 34-4-12.6-1
[IC 34-4 was repealed by
				P.L.
				1-1998,
				SECTION
				221, effective July 1, 1998.]
, and
				IC 16-4-8-1
[IC 16-4 was repealed by
				P.L.
				2-1993,
				SECTION
				209, effective July 1, 1993.]
, and
				any amendments thereto, or when authorized by the patient or those responsible
				for the patient's care.
(b) Give a
				truthful, candid and reasonably complete account of the patient's condition to
				the patient or to those responsible for the patient's care, except where a
				podiatrist reasonably determines that the information is or would be
				detrimental to the physical or mental health of the patient, or in the case of
				a minor or incompetent person, except where a practitioner reasonably
				determines that the information is or would be detrimental to the physical or
				mental health of those responsible for the patient's care.
(c) Give reasonable written notice to a
				patient or to those responsible for the patient's care when the podiatrist
				withdraws from a case so that another practitioner may be employed by the
				patient or by those responsible for the patient's care. A podiatrist shall not
				abandon a patient.
A podiatrist who withdraws from a case, except in emergency
				  circumstances, shall, upon written request, and in conformity with the
				  provisions of IC 16-4-8-1
[IC 16-4 was repealed by
				  P.L.
				  2-1993,
				  SECTION
				  209, effective July 1, 1993.]
through IC 16-4-11
[IC 16-4 was repealed by
				  P.L.
				  2-1993,
				  SECTION
				  209, effective July 1, 1993.]
, and
				  of any subsequent amendment or revision of said statute, make available to his
				  patient or to those responsible for the patient's care, all records, test
				  results, histories, x-rays, radiographic studies, diagnoses, files and
				  information relating to said patient which are in the podiatrist's custody,
				  possession or control, or copies of such documents.
(d) Exercise reasonable care and diligence in
				the treatment of patients based upon generally accepted and approved scientific
				principles, methods, treatments, and current professional theory and
				practice.
(e) Not represent,
				advertise, state or indicate the possession of any degree recognized as the
				basis for licensure to practice podiatric medicine and surgery unless the
				podiatrist is actually licensed on the basis of such degree in the state(s) in
				which he practices.
(f) Obtain
				consultation whenever requested to do so by a patient or by those responsible
				for a patient's care. Further, the podiatrist shall refer a patient to another
				practitioner in any case where the referring podiatrist does not consider
				himself qualified to treat the patient, and may refer the patient to another
				practitioner where the referring podiatrist is unable to diagnose the illness
				or disease of the patient.
(g)
(1) A podiatrist who has personal knowledge
				based upon a reasonable belief that another podiatrist has engaged in illegal,
				unlawful, incompetent or fraudulent conduct in the practice of podiatry shall
				promptly report such conduct to a peer review or similar body, as defined in IC
				34-4-12.6-1(c)
[IC 34-4 was repealed by
				P.L.
				1-1998,
				SECTION
				221, effective July 1, 1998.]
,
				having jurisdiction over the offending podiatrist and the matter. This
				provision does not prohibit a podiatrist from promptly reporting said conduct
				directly to the committee of podiatric medicine. Further, a podiatrist who has
				personal knowledge of any person engaged in, or attempting to engage in, the
				unauthorized practice of podiatric medicine, osteopathic medicine or medicine
				shall promptly report such conduct to the committee of podiatric
				medicine.
(2) A podiatrist who
				voluntarily submits himself/herself to, or is otherwise undergoing a course of
				treatment for, addiction, severe dependency upon alcohol or other drugs or
				controlled substances, or for psychiatric impairment, where such treatment is
				sponsored or supervised by an impaired podiatrists committee of a state,
				regional or local organization of professional health care providers, or where
				such treatment is sponsored or supervised by an impaired podiatrists committee
				of a hospital, shall be exempt from reporting to a peer review committee as set
				forth in subsection (g)(1) or to the committee of podiatric medicine for so
				long as:
(A) the podiatrist is complying with
				the course of treatment;
(B) the
				podiatrist is making satisfactory progress.
If the podiatrist fails to comply with, or is not benefitted
				  by, the course or treatment, the podiatrist chief administrative officer, his
				  designee, or any member of, the impaired podiatrists committee shall promptly
				  report such facts and circumstances to the committee of podiatric medicine.
				  This subsection shall not, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, be
				  deemed or construed to prohibit, restrict, limit or otherwise preclude the
				  committee of podiatric medicine from taking such action as it deems appropriate
				  or as may otherwise be provided by law.