1. A. The licensee shall seek open professional discussion of all theoretical and practical issues, but avoid personal invective directed toward professional colleagues or members of allied professions.
2. B. The licensee shall guard against conflicts of professional interest.
3. C. The licensee may not enter into a commercial agreement that financially exploits an individual served professionally.
4. D. The licensee may not engage in commercial activities that conflict with the licensee's responsibilities to individuals served professionally.

5. E. In the licensee’s professional relationships with colleagues or individuals served professionally, the licensee may not discriminate on the basis of:

   1. (1) Race;
   2. (2) Religion;
   3. (3) Color;
   4. (4) Age;
   5. (5) National origin;
   6. (6) Marital status;
   7. (7) Sexual orientation;
   8. (8) Gender identity; or
   9. (9) Disability.
6. F. The licensee may not provide professional services without exercising independent professional judgment, regardless of referral source or prescription.
7. G. The licensee may delegate duties to support personnel under the supervision of the licensee if the delegated duties do not require the professional skill and judgment specific to the licensee's scope of practice.

8. H. The licensee shall:

   1. (1) Maintain adequate records of professional services rendered and products dispensed, including:

      1. (a) A full written report outlining all diagnostic results and any recommendations;
      2. (b) Daily therapy notes such as subjective, objective, assessment, and plan (SOAP) log notes;
      3. (c) License number on written client reports and evaluations;
      4. (d) Progress reports; and
      5. (e) All documents related to referrals; and
   2. (2) Allow access to these records when appropriately authorized.
9. I. The licensee shall withdraw from professional practice when substance abuse or emotional, mental, or physical disability may adversely affect the quality of services rendered.
10. J. The licensee who has reason to believe that another licensee has violated the Code of Ethics shall inform the Board.
11. K. The licensee shall cooperate fully with the Board in an investigation and adjudication of matters related to the Code of Ethics.
12. L. The licensee may not construe the failure to specify a particular responsibility or practice in this chapter as indicating that the responsibility or practice is not equally as important as those specified. An act that is in violation of the spirit and purpose of the Code of Ethics constitutes unprofessional conduct and may result in disciplinary action against the licensee under Health Occupations Article, §2-314, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§1-212, 2-205 and 2-314, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: January 25, 1974

Regulation .01 amended effective March 23, 1998 (25:6 Md. R. 488); January 6, 2003 (29:26 Md. R. 2027); August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 708)

Regulation .02 amended effective February 22, 1980 (7:4 Md. R. 348); March 23, 1998 (25:6 Md. R. 488); January 6, 2003 (29:26 Md. R. 2027); August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 708)

Regulation .02F and G amended effective June 26, 2000 (27:12 Md. R. 1140)

Regulation .03 repealed effective February 22, 1980 (7:4 Md. R. 348)

Regulation .03 adopted effective March 23, 1998 (25:6 Md. R. 488)

Regulation .04 amended effective February 22, 1980 (7:4 Md. R. 348); March 23, 1998 (25:6 Md. R. 488)

Regulation .04E, H amended effective August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 708)