7609.1 A licensed respiratory care practitioner shall:

1. (a) Practice medically acceptable methods of treatment;
2. (b) Present his or her skills, training, scope of practice, certification, professional affiliations, or other qualifications in a manner that is not false or misleading;
3. (c) Practice only within the scope of his or her competence, qualifications, and any authority vested in the licensed respiratory care practitioner by a physician;
4. (d) Continually strive to enhance the knowledge and skill set required to render quality respiratory care to each patient;
5. (e) Participate in activities to promote community and national efforts to meet the health needs of the public;
6. (f) Be familiar with state and federal laws that govern health occupations;
7. (g) Promptly report to the Board any information relative to the incompetent, unsafe, illegal, or unethical practice of respiratory therapy, or any violation of the Act or this chapter;
8. (h) Uphold the dignity and honor of the profession and abide by its ethical principles;
9. (i) Cooperate with other health care professionals;
10. (j) Provide all services in a manner that respects the dignity of the patient, regardless of the patient's social or economic status, personal attributes, or health problems;
11. (k) Refuse any offer of any gift from a patient or friend or relative of a patient for respiratory care provided to the patient;
12. (l) Wear an identifying tag or badge that includes the practitioner's full name and the words 'licensed respiratory care practitioner' when practicing respiratory therapy; and
13. (m) Abide by the National Clinical Practice Guidelines published by the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) and any subsequent guidelines published by the AARC.

7610.2 If the Board investigates a respiratory care practitioner in connection with a respiratory care procedure for which no AARC guideline has been adopted, the Board may contract with the District of Columbia Society for Respiratory Care (also known as the Maryland/District of Columbia Society for Respiratory Care) or any licensed respiratory care practitioner for a determination of whether the respiratory care procedure was conducted consistent with acceptable standards of care.

SOURCE: As amended by Final Rulemaking published at 46 DCR 7282 (September 17, 1999).