Appendix B - AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR RESPIRATORY CARE
Statement of Ethics and Professional Conduct
In the conduct of professional activities the Respiratory Therapist shall be bound by the following ethical and professional principles. Respiratory Therapists shall:
Demonstrate behavior that reflects integrity, supports objectivity, and fosters trust in the profession and its professionals. Actively maintain and continually improve their professional competence, and represent it accurately.
Perform only those procedures or functions in which they are individually competent and which are within the scope of accepted and responsible practice.
Respect and protect the legal and personal rights of patients they care for, including the right to informed consent and refusal of treatment.
Divulge no confidential information regarding any patient or family unless disclosure is required for responsible performance of duty, or required by law.
Provide care without discrimination on any basis, with respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals.
Promote disease prevention and wellness.
Refuse to participate in illegal or unethical acts, and refuse to conceal illegal, unethical or incompetent acts of others
Follow sound scientific procedures and ethical principles in research.
Comply with state or federal laws which govern and relate to their practice.
Avoid any form of conduct that creates a conflict of interest, and shall follow the principles of ethical business behavior.
Promote health care delivery through improvement of the access, efficacy, and cost of patient care.
Refrain from indiscriminate and unnecessary use of resources.
Effective December 1994, Revised March 2000