Appendix A - AMERICAN REGISTRY OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS STANDARDS OF ETHICS

Current through April 27, 2019

A. CODE OF ETHICS

The Code of Ethics forms the first part of the Standards of Ethics. The Code of Ethics shall serve as a guide by which Certificate Holders and Candidates may evaluate their professional conduct as it relates to patients, healthcare consumers, employers, colleagues, and other members of the healthcare team. The Code of Ethics is intended to assist Certificate Holders and Candidates in maintaining a high level of ethical conduct and in providing for the protection, safety, and comfort of patients. The Code of Ethics is aspirational.

1. The radiologic technologist acts in a professional manner, responds to patient needs, and supports colleagues and associates in providing quality patient care.

2. The radiologic technologist acts to advance the principal objective of the profession to provide services to humanity with full respect for the dignity of mankind.

3. The radiologic technologist delivers patient care and service unrestricted by the concerns of personal attributes or the nature of the disease or illness, and without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, or socio-economic status.

4. The radiologic technologist practices technology founded upon theoretical knowledge and concepts, uses equipment and accessories consistent with the purposes for which they were designed, and employs procedures and techniques appropriately.

5. The radiologic technologist assesses situations; exercises care, discretion, and judgment; assumes responsibility for professional decisions; and acts in the best interest of the patient.

6. The radiologic technologist acts as an agent through observation and communication to obtain pertinent information for the physician to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient and recognizes that interpretation and diagnosis are outside the scope of practice for the profession.

7. The radiologic technologist uses equipment and accessories, employs techniques and procedures, performs services in accordance with an accepted standard of practice, and demonstrates expertise in minimizing radiation exposure to the patient, self, and other members of the healthcare team.

8. The radiologic technologist practices ethical conduct appropriate to the profession and protects the patient's right to quality radiologic technology care.

9. The radiologic technologist respects confidences entrusted in the course of professional practice, respects the patient's right to privacy, and reveals confidential information only as required by law or to protect the welfare of the individual or the community.

10. The radiologic technologist continually strives to improve knowledge and skills by participating in continuing education and professional activities, sharing knowledge with colleagues, and investigating new aspects of professional practice.

B. RULES OF ETHICS

The Rules of Ethics form the second part of the Standards of Ethics. They are mandatory standards of minimally acceptable professional conduct for all Certificate Holders and Candidates. Certification and Registration are methods of assuring the medical community and the public that an individual is qualified to practice within the profession. Because the public relies on certificates and registrations issued by ARRT, it is essential that Certificate Holders and Candidates act consistently with these Rules of Ethics. These Rules of Ethics are intended to promote the protection, safety, and comfort of patients. The Rules of Ethics are enforceable. Certificate Holders and Candidates engaging in any of the following conduct or activities, or who permit the occurrence of the following conduct or activities with respect to them, have violated the Rules of Ethics and are subject to sanctions as described hereunder:

1. Employing fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure, maintain, renew, or obtain or reinstate certification or registration as issued by ARRT; employment in radiologic technology; or a state permit, license, or registration certificate to practice radiologic technology. This includes altering in any respect any document issued by the ARRT or any state or federal agency, or by indicating in writing certification or registration with the ARRT when that is not the case.

2. Subverting or attempting to subvert ARRT's examination process. Conduct that subverts or attempts to subvert ARRT's examination process includes, but is not limited to:
- (i) disclosing examination information using language that is substantially similar to that used in questions and/or answers from ARRT examinations when such information is gained as a direct result of having been an examinee; this includes, but is not limited to, disclosures to students in educational programs, graduates of educational programs, educators, or anyone else involved in the preparation of Candidates to sit for the examinations; and/or
- (ii) receiving examination information that uses language that is substantially similar to that used in questions and/or answers on ARRT examinations from an examinee, whether requested or not; and/or
- (iii) copying, publishing, reconstructing (whether by memory or otherwise), reproducing or transmitting any portion of examination materials by any means, verbal or written, electronic or mechanical, without the prior express written permission of ARRT or using professional, paid or repeat examination takers or any other individual for the purpose of reconstructing any portion of examination materials; and/or
- (iv) using or purporting to use any portion of examination materials that were obtained improperly or without authorization for the purpose of instructing or preparing any Candidate for examination or certification; and/or
- (v) selling or offering to sell, buying or offering to buy, or distributing or offering to distribute any portion of examination materials without authorization; and/or
- (vi) removing or attempting to remove examination materials from an examination room, or having unauthorized possession of any portion of or information concerning a future, current, or previously administered examination of ARRT; and/or
- (vii) disclosing what purports to be, or under all circumstances is likely to be understood by the recipient as, any portion of or "inside" information concerning any portion of a future, current, or previously administered examination of ARRT; and/or
- (viii) communicating with another individual during administration of the examination for the purpose of giving or receiving help in answering examination questions, copying another Candidate's answers, permitting another Candidate to copy one's answers, or possessing unauthorized materials including, but not limited to, notes; and/or
- (ix) impersonating a Candidate or permitting an impersonator to take or attempt to take the examination on one's own behalf; and/or
- (x) the use of any other means that potentially alters the results of the examination such that the results may not accurately represent the professional knowledge base of a Candidate.

3. Convictions, criminal proceedings, or military court-martials as described below:
- (i) conviction of a crime, including a felony, a gross misdemeanor, or a misdemeanor, with the sole exception of speeding and parking violations. All alcohol and/or drug related violations must be reported. Offenses that occurred while a juvenile and that are processed through the juvenile court system are not required to be reported to ARRT.
- (ii) criminal proceeding where a finding or verdict of guilt is made or returned but the adjudication of guilt is either withheld, deferred, or not entered or the sentence is suspended or stayed; or a criminal proceeding where the individual enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (no contest); or where the individual enters into a pre-trial diversion activity.
- (iii) military court-martials related to any offense identified in these Rules of Ethics.

4. Violating a rule adopted by a state or federal regulatory authority or certification board resulting in the individual's license, permit, registration or certification being denied, revoked, suspended, placed on probation, or subjected to any conditions, or failing to report to ARRT any of the violations or actions identified in this Rule.

5. Performing procedures which the individual is not competent to perform through appropriate training and/or education or experience unless assisted or personally supervised by someone who is competent (through training and/or education or experience).

6. Engaging in unprofessional conduct, including, but not limited to:
- (i) a departure from or failure to conform to applicable federal, state, or local governmental rules regarding radiologic technology practice or scope of practice; or, if no such rule exists, to the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing radiologic technology practice;
- (ii) any radiologic technology practice that may create unnecessary danger to a patient's life, health, or safety. Actual injury to a patient or the public need not be established under this clause.

7. Delegating or accepting the delegation of a radiologic technology function or any other prescribed healthcare function when the delegation or acceptance could reasonably be expected to create an unnecessary danger to a patient's life, health, or safety. Actual injury to a patient need not be established under this clause.

8. Actual or potential inability to practice radiologic technology with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness; use of alcohol, drugs, chemicals, or any other material; or as a result of any mental or physical condition.

9. Adjudication as mentally incompetent, mentally ill, a chemically dependent person, or a person dangerous to the public, by a court of competent jurisdiction.

10. Engaging in any unethical conduct, including, but not limited to, conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public; or demonstrating a willful or careless disregard for the health, welfare, or safety of a patient. Actual injury need not be established under this clause.

11. Engaging in conduct with a patient that is sexual or may reasonably be interpreted by the patient as sexual, or in any verbal behavior that is seductive or sexually demeaning to a patient; or engaging in sexual exploitation of a patient or former patient. This also applies to any unwanted sexual behavior, verbal or otherwise, that results in the termination of employment.

12. Revealing a privileged communication from or relating to a former or current patient, except when otherwise required or permitted by law, or using or releasing confidential patient information in violation of HIPAA.

13. Knowingly engaging or assisting any person to engage in, or otherwise participating in, abusive or fraudulent billing practices, including violations of federal Medicare and Medicaid laws or state medical assistance laws.

14. Improper management of patient records, including failure to maintain adequate patient records or to furnish a patient record or report required by law; or making, causing, or permitting anyone to make false, deceptive, or misleading entry in any patient record.

15. Knowingly assisting, advising, or allowing a person without a current and appropriate state permit, license, or registration certificate or a current certificate of registration with ARRT to engage in the practice of radiologic technology, in a jurisdiction which requires a person to have such a current and appropriate state permit, license, or registration certificate or a current and appropriate registration of certification with ARRT in order to practice radiologic technology in such jurisdiction.

16. Violating a state or federal narcotics or controlled substance law.

17. Knowingly providing false or misleading information that is directly related to the care of a former or current patient.

18. Subverting, attempting to subvert, or aiding others to subvert or attempt to subvert ARRT's Continuing Education (CE) Requirements for Renewal of Registration. Conduct that subverts or attempts to subvert ARRT's Continuing Education Requirements includes, but is not limited to:
- (i) providing false, inaccurate, altered, or deceptive information related to CE activities to ARRT or an ARRT recognized CE recordkeeper;
- (ii) assisting others to provide false, inaccurate, altered, or deceptive information related to CE activities to ARRT or an ARRT recognized CE recordkeeper;
- (iii) conduct that results or could result in a false or deceptive report of CE completion; or
- (iv) conduct that in any way compromises the integrity of the CE Requirements such as sharing answers to the post-tests or CE self-learning activities, providing or using false certificates of participation, or verifying CE credits that were not earned.

19. Subverting or attempting to subvert the ARRT certification or registration process by:
- (i) making a false statement or knowingly providing false information to ARRT; or
- (ii) failing to cooperate with any investigation by the ARRT.

20. Engaging in false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading communications to any person regarding the individual's education, training, credentials, experience, or qualifications, or the status of the individual's state permit, license, or registration certificate in radiologic technology or certificate of registration with ARRT.

21. Knowing of a violation or a probable violation of any Rule of Ethics by any Certificate Holder or Candidate and failing to promptly report in writing the same to the ARRT.

22. Failing to immediately report to his or her supervisor information concerning an error made in connection with imaging, treating, or caring for a patient. For purposes of this rule, errors include any departure from the standard of care that reasonably may be considered to be potentially harmful, unethical, or improper (commission). Errors also include behavior that is negligent or should have occurred in connection with a patient's care, but did not (omission). The duty to report under this rule exists whether or not the patient suffered any injury.

The ARRT Standards of Ethics are reprinted by permission of the ARRT. The ARRT Standards of Ethics are copyrighted by the ARRT.

Effective 2/26/2013