A licensee under SDCL chapter 36-4C shall comply with the following code of ethics.

● Demonstrate behavior that reflects integrity, supports objectivity, and fosters trust in the profession and its professionals.

● Seek educational opportunities to improve and maintain their professional competence and document their participation accurately.

● Perform only those procedures or functions in which they are individually competent and which are within their scope of accepted and responsible practice.

● Respect and protect the legal and personal rights of patients, including the right to privacy, informed consent, and refusal of treatment.

● Divulge no protected information regarding any patient or family unless disclosure is required for the responsible performance of duty authorized by the patient and/or family, 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.

● Refuse to conceal, and will report, the illegal, unethical, fraudulent, 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 is fraudulent or 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.

● Encourage and promote appropriate stewardship of resources.

Reference: Statement of Ethics and Professional Conduct of the American Association for Respiratory Care, 2012. Copies may be obtained from

http://c.aarc.org/resources/position_statements/documents/AARCStatementofEthicsandProfessionalConduct.pdf.

Source: 41 SDR 180, effective May 21, 2015.

General Authority: SDCL 36-4C-14.

Law Implemented: SDCL 36-4C-15 , 36-4C-18.