Holistic Health - Code of Ethics

Holistic Health Care Practitioner™ - HHCP

Holistic Natural Health Services Registry/Directory - Australia - Who will be able to apply?

Qualified Accredited Natural Health Care Practitioners (Naturopath)

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Recommended Code of Ethics & Conduct

NOTE: useNature's Registry/Directory will only accept listings by Holistic Health Care Practitioners who adhere to a "Code of Ethics & Conduct for unregistered practitioners", as outlined by the 'COAG Health Council National Code of Conduct'.

Find more information within the report of "A National Code of Conduct for health care workers".

This "Code of Ethics & Conduct" applies to the provision of health services by:

Holistic Health Care Practitioner™, who are NOT subject to the government scheme for registration* under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.
* deemed to be safe

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Additional - Voluntary "Self-regulatory Health Care Codes" ...

... voluntary added to the Australian National Code of Ethics and Conducts .

NOTE: The principle of Natural Therapy is, "the body, given it's right circumstances, will heal itself", therefore, Natural Therapists do NOT HEAL ANYTHING.

Natural Therapists do provide education and natural means to holistically "Support" an individual body system, to PREVENT, keep, or regain complete Health.

1. Practitioners must NOT "treat" a "disease", notifiable conditions (infectious diseases) or cancer.
   NOTE: Practitioners do support health and treat "Individuals", not a "disease name".
   

2. Practitioners must NOT "diagnose" a "disease" for the purpose of "naming a disease".
   Naturopathic Practitioners use diagnostic techniques only to determine the underlying cause of the patients concern.
   NOTE: Treatment and Health support is tailored holistically to the individual person, not the disease.

3. Practitioners must NOT make any Therapeutic Claims, and must not add testimonials to their web-sites.
   

4. Practitioners must NOT sell supplements for the Purpose of making a profit.
   Instead, supplements, and other therapeutic agents are only subscribed on the basis of a patient's needs.
   Reasoning behind the prescription for specific supplements are to be made accountable on a patient's file.

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"Code of Ethics & Conduct" - based on: "NSW - Codes of Conduct"

Holistic Health Care Practitioners to provide services in safe and ethical manner:

NOTE: Holistic Health Care Practitioners practice safe, non-invasive and drugless preventative and health supportive treatments.

NOTE: The term "Practitioner" is used in this Code of Ethics/Conduct as to mean and include all modalities of Holistic Health Care Practitioners.

1. Practitioners must provide health services in a safe and ethical manner.

2. Practitioners must maintain the necessary competence in his or her field of practice,

3. Practitioners must NOT provide health care of a type that is outside his or her experience or training, or not qualified to provide.

4. Practitioners must prescribe/recommend only treatments or appliances that serve the needs of the client.

5. Practitioners must recognise the limitations of the treatment he or she can provide and refer clients to other competent health practitioners.

6. Practitioners must encourage his or her clients to inform their treating medical practitioner (if any) of the treatments they are receiving.

7. Practitioners must have a sound understanding of any adverse interactions between the therapies and treatments he or she provides or prescribes and any other medications or treatments, whether prescribed or not, that the health practitioner is aware the client is taking or receiving,

8. Practitioners must ensure that appropriate first aid is available to deal with any misadventure during a client consultation.

Practitioners to adopt standard precautions for infection control:

1. Practitioners must NOT treat notifiable conditions (infectious diseases).

2. Practitioners must adopt standard precautions for the control of infection in his or her practice.
   

Practitioners not to make claims to cure certain serious illnesses:

1. Practitioners must NOT hold himself or herself out as qualified, able or willing to cure cancer and other terminal illnesses.

2. Practitioners may make a claim as to his or her ability or willingness to treat or alleviate "the symptoms" of those illnesses if that claim can be substantiated.

Appropriate conduct in relation to treatment advice

1. Practitioners must not attempt to dissuade clients from seeking or continuing with treatment by a registered medical practitioner.

2. Practitioners must accept the right of his or her clients to make informed choices in relation to their health care.

3. A health practitioner who has serious concerns about the treatment provided to any of his or her clients by another health practitioner must refer the matter to the Health Care Complaints Commission.

Practitioners not to practise under influence or alcohol or drugs

1. Practitioners must not practise under the influence of alcohol or unlawful drugs.

2. Practitioner who is taking prescribed medication must obtain advice from the prescribing health practitioner on the impact of the medication on his or her ability to practice and must refrain from treating clients in circumstances where his or her ability is or may be impaired.

Practitioners not to financially exploit clients

1. Practitioners must not accept financial inducements or gifts for referring clients to other health practitioners or to the suppliers of medications or therapeutic goods or devices.

2. Practitioners must not offer financial inducements or gifts in return for client referrals from other health practitioners.

3. Practitioners must not provide services and treatments to clients unless they are designed to maintain or improve the clients’ health or wellbeing.

Practitioners not to misinform their clients

1. Practitioners must not engage in any form of misinformation or misrepresentation in relation to the products or services he or she provides or as to his or her qualifications, training or professional affiliations.

2. Practitioners must provide truthful information as to his or her qualifications, training or professional affiliations if asked about those matters by a client.

3. Practitioners must not make claims, either directly or in advertising or promotional material, about the efficacy of treatment or services provided if those claims cannot be substantiated.

Practitioners not to engage in sexual or improper personal relationship with client

1. Practitioners must not engage in a sexual or other close personal relationship with a client.

2. Before engaging in a sexual or other close personal relationship with a former client, a health practitioner must ensure that a suitable period of time has elapsed since the conclusion of their therapeutic relationship.

Practitioners to keep appropriate insurance

1. Practitioners should ensure that appropriate indemnity insurance arrangements are in place in relation to his or her practice.
   

Practitioners to display Code and other Information

1. Practitioners must display a copy of each of the following documents at all premises where the health practitioner carries on his or her practice:
   (a) this code of ethics/conduct,
   (b) a document that gives information about the way in which clients may make a complaint to the Health Care Complaints Commission, being a document in a form approved by the Director General.

2. Copies of those documents must be displayed in a position and manner that makes them easily visible to clients entering the relevant premises.

3. useNature's additional recommendation - Practitioners are advised to display the same documents to their web-sites.
   

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Document for Patients:

CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR HEALTH CARE?

The Code of Ethics/Conduct for Holistic Health Care Practitioner™s sets out what you can expect from your provider.

If you are concerned about the health service that was provided to you or your next of kin, talk to the practitioner immediately. In most cases the health service provider will try to resolve them.

If you are not satisfied with the provider’s response, contact the Inquiry Service of the Health Care Complaints Commission on (02) 9219 7444
or toll free on 1800 043 159 for a confidential discussion.

If your complaint is about sexual or physical assault or relates to the immediate health or safety of a person, you should contact the Commission immediately.

What is the Health Care Complaints Commission?

The Health Care Complaints Commission is an independent body dealing with complaints about health services to protect the public health and
safety.

For more information about the Health Care Complaints Commission, please visit the website www.hccc.nsw.gov.au.

Contact the Health Care Complaints Commission

Office address: Level 13, 323 Castlereagh Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000

Post address: Locked Mail Bag 18, STRAWBERRY HILLS NSW 2012

Telephone: (02) 9219 7444

Toll Free in NSW: 1800 043 159

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For more information, please Contact us

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Certification Guidelines