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Code of Ethics and Professional Standards

This Code of Ethics and Professional Standards aims to assist and support Emmett Practitioners to deliver effective health care within an ethical framework.

Duty of Care

It is the Emmett Practitioners primary professional duty of care to assist their clients within the scope of their training, and circumstances of the client’s condition.

All practitioners must maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and duty of care to the client and never knowingly undertake any action or treatment that would adversely affect the health of a client or the credibility of the Emmett Technique. Fundamental to the technique is providing compassionate care for the client with integrity and respect for the client as an individual.

It is the Emmett Practitioners responsibility to ensure they maintain current First Aid certification so they are able to fulfil their duty of care in an emergency situation.

Practitioners must have respect for the views of their clients irrespective of age, race, sex, marital or parental status, physical features, impairments, religious and/or political beliefs or activities, culture or social standing.

The client’s treatment options must be based upon their needs and the best available information rather than being influenced by financial or other gain of the practitioner. Practitioners must respect the right of the client to make their own decisions regarding their health care.

It is the practitioner’s responsibility to ensure they are medically, physically and psychologically fit to see clients.

Referral

Emmett Practitioners must recognise the limits to their own skills and competence and refer the client when it is in the client’s best interests.

In the process of referring a client ensure several choices of therapists are provided to the client where possible. Reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the practitioners being referred to have the qualifications and experience necessary to provide care for the client.

Upon receiving a referral from a medical practitioner this referral is to the Practitioner not the clinic as the doctor can be held responsible for the outcome.

Insurance

It is the individual Emmett Practitioners’ responsibility to source and maintain an up to date Professional Indemnity Insurance policy that best meets their specific needs for their country/state location. The Practitioner is to make their own investigations to relevant professionals in reference to their own insurance requirements. Once at therapist level (end of module 6), Professional Indemnity Insurance coverage is mandatory for all Emmett Practitioners.

Advertising

Advertising can be useful to inform the general public of practitioner services and educating them on the Emmett Technique. All advertisements must conform to the relevant consumer protection legislation and other applicable legislation in your region. Care must be taken to accurately represent the technique. The Emmett Technique treats pain and discomfort. It does not treat specific disorders and diseases. The correct wording is, “It may assist……”

Emmett Practitioners must at no time take part in or promote any activity that will reflect improperly or denigrate the standing of the Emmett Technique or Emmett Therapists.

The aim of any advertising should be to raise the awareness and profile of the Emmett Technique within the community.

This applies across all mediums of advertising including social media.

Privacy

Emmett Practitioners treating clients must display and adhere to an up to date privacy policy that complies with the Privacy laws in their country of practice. In Australia this is the 13 Australian Privacy Principles contained within the amended version of the 1988 Privacy Act. These principles stipulate how personal client information is to be managed.

Confidentiality

ALL client details must be kept confidential, unless the law requires the release of their information or the written consent of the client has been obtained. Practitioners must ensure client records are kept in a secure location that only authorised people have access to.

Records are to be retained as per the legislation in your region of practice. For Australian practitioners this is for a minimum of 7 years from the last appointment or where the client is under 18 years old, until they reach 25 years of age.

Informed Consent / Governing Health & Hygiene Directives

Informed Consent is a client/potential client’s voluntary decision to determine the health care most appropriate for them upon understanding the benefits and any risks involved in any proposed treatment. Clients should be aware of the fee schedule for treatment prior to the commencement of any treatment.

Emmett Practitioners must obtain informed consent before treatment is undertaken.

In providing care for children and young people ensure parental consent has been obtained.In providing care for children and young people ensure parental consent has been obtained.

As a professional therapist you have a responsibility to yourself and community to make an informed decision and abide by the recommendations and directives of your governing health authority in your country or regional area.

Respond to the advice of authorities accordingly and implement measures that comply.

Please check with your governing health authorities for further details and updates.
Covid-19: Ongoing and additional health regulations, directives, and documentation may be required in your country / region, please refer to local health authorities for more information.

Research

When collecting data for research purposes all practitioners must ensure that the Privacy legislation in their region is adhered to.

Continuing Education

To ensure clients are receiving safe and effective care all Emmett Practitioners must maintain adequate knowledge and their skills.

From the 1st of July 2017 there will be a compulsory 8 hours of annual continuing education in the Emmett Technique to be a Registered Emmett Practitioner and to be listed on the Emmett Technique website.

References and Sources of Further Information