Professional codes of ethics in SLT

Question 1

When do ethical codes link back to?

Answer 1

to the Nuremberg trials after Nazi medical experiments were revealed

Question 2

What is a code of ethics?

Answer 2

A document of guidance that:

• Establishes ethical standards of behaviour of professionals
• Outlines the expectations for professional conduct
• Can lay out specific duties and obligations
• These codes are informed by ethical principles and values, such as respect for persons, the obligation to do good, do no harm, and the distribution of resources.

Question 3

How can these principles be applied as a SLT?

Answer 3

1. Respect for Persons: SLTs must respect the autonomy and dignity of their clients. This involves obtaining informed consent for therapy and ensuring that clients have the freedom to make decisions about their treatment.
2. Obligation to Do Good: SLTs have an ethical duty to provide effective and beneficial therapy to their clients. They must use evidence-based practices and strive to achieve positive outcomes for their clients.
3. Do No Harm: SLTs should take steps to prevent harm to their clients. This includes avoiding unnecessary physical or mental suffering during therapy and ensuring that therapy is safe and appropriate.
4. Distribution of Resources: SLTs should allocate their resources, including time and expertise, in an equitable manner to provide the best care for their clients, regardless of socioeconomic status.
5. Values: SLTs should embody values such as compassion, dedication, accountability, trustworthiness, empathy, integrity, and cooperation in their interactions with clients and colleagues.

Question 4

Points of the code regarding experiments/trials/studies

Answer 4

• Voluntary, well-informed, understanding consent
  of the human subject in a full legal capacity is required.
• aim at positive results for society that cannot be procured in some other way.
• Experiment avoids unnecessary physical and mental suffering and injuries, except, in experiments
  where the experimental physicians also serve as
  subjects
• The human subjects must be free to immediately quit the experiment at any
  point when they feel physically or mentally unable to go on.
• Medical staff must stop the
  experiment at any point when they observe that continuation would be dangerous.
• The staff who conduct or take part in the experiment must be fully trained and
  scientifically qualified.

Question 5

Breaches of the code

Answer 5

• We must be aware that a
  breach or breaches of this
  Code could be held to be
  professional misconduct or
  poor professional performance
• This could result in a
  disciplinary sanction being
  imposed following a fitness to
  practice inquiry

Question 6

Poor professional performance

Answer 6

any failure of the
registrant to meet the
standards of competence that
may reasonably be expected

Question 7

Professional misconduct

Answer 7

omission or pattern of conduct
that is a breach of the code of
professional conduct and
ethics

Question 8

When was the IASLT code of ethics compiled?

Answer 8

October 2022

Question 9

Why does the IASLT code of ethics matter?

Answer 9

• To protect clients
• To make sure SLTs understand their responsibilities and the standard of ethics and performance expected of them
• Offer guidance when making professional decisions
• Protects SLTs - complaint
• Helpful in research