North Carolina Respiratory Care Board

CODE OF ETHICS

In the conduct of their professional activities the Respiratory Care Practitioner shall be bound by the following ethical and professional principles:

The Respiratory Care Practitioner shall uphold the dignity and honor of the profession and abide by its ethical principles. He or she should be familiar with existing state and federal laws governing the practice of Respiratory Care and comply with those laws.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner shall perform only those procedures or functions in which he or she is competent and which are within the scope of accepted and responsible practice.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner shall respect and protect the legal and personal rights of patients they treat, including the right to informed consent and refusal of treatment.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner shall provide care without discrimination on any basis, with respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner shall refuse to participate in illegal or unethical acts, and shall refuse to conceal illegal, unethical or incompetent acts of others.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner shall follow sound scientific procedures and ethical principles in research.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner shall avoid any form of conduct that creates a conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict. He or she shall follow the principles of ethical business behavior.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner shall maintain and continually improve professional competence and represent it accurately.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner shall cooperate with other health care professionals and with the public to participate in activities to promote the health needs of the people of North Carolina.