The Importance of Ethics in Clinical Practice Part 10
Conduct of Colleagues
Therapists are required to take appropriate action to make a complaint, which will be dealt with in accordance with the Complaints Procedure, with regard to the behaviour of a colleague which may be detrimental to the profession, to colleagues or to other members.
When therapists become aware of alleged or actual malpractice of another practitioner they are obliged to bring it to the attention of the necessary bodies. Care must be taken that the actual or alleged malpractice is such and is not a misunderstanding of the type of procedures involved in a particular discipline, either by the client or reporting therapist. Advice may need to be taken from the supervisor, NSHP&M or NCHP before proceeding formally.
Entertainment
Therapists shall not give any performance, lecture or display which presents hypnosis, psychotherapy or allied discipline as a means of entertainment.
In conclusion
I decided to write this series of blog posts because I hope to educate the therapy going public as to what is the thinking behind many of the clauses in the codes of ethics, I and other colleagues follow. It is very easy to say, “I am bound by a strict code of ethics”, but to not understand what this means in clinical practice. I hope that this has helped to clarify some of these important concepts.
