- (a) Purpose. The rules in this section on the profession of respiratory care practitioners shall be to establish the standards of professional conduct and code of ethics required of a licensee.
(b) Ethical and professional principles. In the conduct of their professional activities the respiratory care practitioner shall be bound by the following ethical and professional principles. Respiratory care practitioners shall:
- (1) Demonstrate behavior that reflects integrity, supports objectivity, and fosters trust in the professional and its professionals.
- (2) Actively maintain and continually improve their professional competence, and represent it accurately.
- (3) Perform only those procedures or functions in which they are individually competent and which are within the scope of accepted and responsible practice.
- (4) Respect and protect the legal and personal rights of patients they treat, including the right to informed consent and refusal of treatment.
- (5) Divulge no confidential information regarding any patient or family unless disclosure is required for responsible performance of duty, or required by law.
- (6) Provide care without discrimination on any basis, with respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals.
- (7) Promote disease prevention and wellness.
- (8) Refuse to participate in illegal or unethical acts, and shall refuse to conceal illegal, unethical or incompetent acts of others.
- (9) Follow sound scientific procedures and ethical principles in research.
- (10) Comply with state or federal laws that govern and relate to their practice.
- (11) Avoid any form of conduct that creates a conflict of interest, and shall follow the principles of ethical business behavior.
- (12) Promote the positive evolution of the professional, and health care in general, through improvement of the access, efficacy, and cost of patient care.
- (13) Refrain from indiscriminate and unnecessary use of resources, both economic and natural, in their practice.
Added at 18 Ok Reg 2646, eff 7-12-01