I. OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Code of Ethics is to provide guidance, which will
ensure the provision of safe and effective chiropractic care to the public.
Where a provision of the Code of Ethics is inconsistent with legislation,
the legislation shall govern.
II. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PATIENT
1. Quality of Care
A chiropractor shall at all times provide the highest reasonable quality of
care consistent with the best available evidence and within their
professional and personal limits of competence.
The provision of care may include the appropriate referral to
non-chiropractic health care practitioners for diagnosis and treatment.
Failure to provide the highest reasonable quality of care, including
appropriate referral, is unethical.
2. Guarantees
A chiropractor shall not guarantee to cure any ailment.
3. Patient's Visits
A chiropractor shall provide care as often as necessary, and shall avoid
unnecessary care.
A chiropractor should not provide any medical diagnosis to the patients. For
the care a chiropractor must consider its safety.
4. Referral
Where a chiropractor is unable to continue to care for a patient, they shall
inform the patient and assist the patient in finding alternative care.
5. Confidentiality
A chiropractor shall protect the privacy of a patient, including the privacy
of all information related to the patient's health.
Except in the following cases. A) When a chiropractor obtains the patient's
consents. B) When a chiropractor is asked to indicate the information by the
law. C) When a chiropractor needs a fellow practitioner's advices. D) When
keeping the patient's privacy is not helpful for the patient.
6. Informed Consent
A chiropractor shall obtain informed consent from the patient or the
patient's guardian before commencing care. A chiropractor should respect the
patient's right to choose whether he is going to receive a care or not.
Under freedom of choice, a chiropractor should recognize the patient's right
to receive the information from another provider.
7. Fees
Except in the instance of reducing or waiving fees for compassionate
reasons, all patients in a practice shall be subject to the same set of
fees. The fee structure of a practice shall be made known to the patient
before the patient enters into care.
8. Malpractice Insurance
For the protection of the patient, a chiropractor must make every reasonable
effort to obtain and maintain malpractice insurance.
9. Equality
A chiropractor should take responsible care to all individuals regardless of
physical, race, sex, cultural, national origins, religion, and political
differences.
10. Sexual Harassment
A chiropractor should make every effort to avoid dual relationship that
could impair their professional judgment.
III. RESPONSIBILITY TO FELLOW PRACTITIONER
1. Respect
A chiropractor should not criticize other fellow practitioner for his own
benefit in front of the patient.
2. Cooperation
A chiropractor should encourage and cooperate each other.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PROFESSION
1. Title
The use of the title "chiropractor" to describe a practitioner, or
"chiropractic " to describe a practice shall only be used by an individual
who has a combination of education and post-graduate training at least
equivalent to a first university degree. To use the terms "chiropractor" or
"chiropractic", or to encourage or permit the use of these terms in other
circumstances is unethical. The title "doctor of chiropractic" or the
abbreviation "D.C." or any variation thereof shall only be used by a
graduate of an institution providing education at the internationally
recognized level. To use, or to encourage or permit use of the terms "doctor
of chiropractic", "D.C." or any variation thereof in other circumstances is
unethical.
2. Teaching of Chiropractic Technique
It is unethical to teach or offer to teach chiropractic technique, including
spinal manipulation, except to students or graduates of schools providing
education at the internationally-recognized level, to practitioners having a
combination of education and post-graduate training equivalent to at least a
first university degree, or to students of schools formally recognized by
the education committee as in the process of achieving the international
standard of education.
It is unethical to teach or to offer to teach chiropractic technique without
prior approval of the education committee except when teaching exclusively
to students or graduates of schools providing education at the
internationally recognized level.
3. Identity
A chiropractor should maintain the uniqueness of chiropractic identity. It
is unethical to practice chiropractic under any other titles as follows.
Eg.Seitai, Soft-chiropractic, Osteopathy, Manual medicine, Bone setting,
-system chiropractic, Ryozyutsu-chiropractic, Chiro-doctor etc.
4. Education
A chiropractor should render to chiropractic education.
5. Research
A chiropractor should render to chiropractic research.
6. Profession
A chiropractor should render to chiropractic profession.
V. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC
1. Specialized Qualifications
No chiropractor shall state or imply that they have any specialized
qualifications except those recognized by the council on chiropractic
education or equivalent body in the jurisdiction where the qualification was
obtained.
No chiropractor shall state or imply that they have qualifications superior
to their colleagues, except to acknowledge academic degrees and specialty
training recognized by a council on chiropractic education or equivalent
body.
2. Advertising
A chiropractor's advertising should be accurate and truthful and should not
be misleading or deceptive to the public. |