Code of Ethics
OncANP Code of Ethics To provide protection to the general public, a naturopathic physician who is a member of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians shall abide by the following code of ethics. The failure to comply with any of the provisions of this section shall subject a member to reprimand or revocation of membership in the organization.
1. Honesty: A naturopathic physician shall conduct himself or herself in an honest manner; shall not represent himself or herself to patients or the public in an untruthful, misleading, or deceptive manner; and shall not engage in advertising that is false or deceptive. Dishonest conduct includes but is not limited to:
1.1. The use of fraud or deception in securing a license or naturopathic medical degree.
1.2. The impersonation of another physician.
1.3. Committing an immoral, fraudulent, or dishonest act as a naturopathic physician, resulting in substantial injury to another.
1.4. Misleading advertising representing any particular treatment as a specific cure for an incurable condition; or advertising or practicing in a manner which would be a discredit to the Association or to the profession of naturopathic medicine.
1.5. Directly or indirectly aiding or abetting an unlicensed person in a licensed jurisdiction to practice naturopathic medicine and receive compensation there from.
2. Improper relationship: A naturopathic physician shall not engage in sexual relations with a patient unless that patient has been released from the naturopathic physician's care for at least one year. The termination of the physician-patient relationship shall be in writing, and the patient shall understand that the physician-patient relationship has ended.
2.1. The commission of any sexual abuse or sexual misconduct with a patient or client which is substantially related to the qualifications, functions or duties of a naturopathic physician, the record of conviction being conclusive evidence thereof
3. Privacy: A naturopathic physician shall maintain patient privacy and confidentiality. However, if the naturopathic physician becomes aware that a patient is a danger to the public, the naturopathic physician shall take reasonable steps to advise appropriate public officials or agencies of the potential danger, within the guidelines of applicable laws.
4. Performance: A naturopathic physician shall perform professional tasks and responsibilities to the best of the naturopathic physician's ability, and refrain from engaging in any behavior that will detract from his or her ability to engage in the practice of naturopathic medicine.
4.1. Using any narcotic, stimulant or hypnotic drug, or alcoholic beverage to an extent or in a manner dangerous to him or herself or to any other person, or to the public, and to an extent that such use impairs his or her ability to engage in the practice of naturopathic medicine with safety to the public.
5. Obligation: The fundamental and primary obligation of a naturopathic physician is to the patient, and the maintenance and improvement of the patient's health and wellbeing.
5.1. A naturopathic physician shall at all times seek to employ methods of therapy that are consistent with naturopathic medical philosophy, scientific principles and evidence, and the naturopathic physician's training and experience, and shall provide patients with information about these therapies and potential alternative therapies so that the patient may give fully informed consent to the recommended treatments.
5.2. As part of the obligation to provide care, a naturopathic physician shall use his or her best efforts to facilitate a patient's access to high quality, safe and reliable medicines, medical devices, and supplements.
5.3. A naturopathic physician shall offer alternative sources for obtaining the items in section
5.2 as long as those alternative sources do not compromise patient safety or clinical effectiveness.
5.4. The naturopathic physician shall adequately disclose the contents of medicines or the nature and description of treatments recommended to a patient.
5.5. Furthermore, all therapies shall be monitored by the naturopathic physician in a timely manner utilizing reliable means in order to accurately assess the patient's response to employed treatments.
5.6. A naturopathic physician shall only provide or recommend services that are medically necessary or deemed to be beneficial for an individual patient.
6. Competence: A naturopathic physician shall maintain proficiency and competence, and be diligent in the provision and administration of patient care.
6.1. A naturopathic physician shall recognize and exercise professional judgment within the limits of his or her qualifications, and collaborate with others, seek counsel, or make referrals as appropriate.
6.2. When expanding the naturopathic treatments or services provided to patients, a naturopathic physician shall pursue the appropriate advanced education and training. 6.3. A naturopathic physician shall dedicate sufficient time to each patient in order to provide (to the best of the naturopathic physician's ability) accurate, comprehensive, and individualized patient assessment and treatment.
7. Discrimination: A naturopathic physician is free to decide whether or not to provide naturopathic medical care to a particular person, unless confronted with a medical emergency; provided that the naturopathic physician shall not refuse his or her best care if other reasonable options are not available.
7.1. A naturopathic physician shall not decline to provide care for a person or discriminate against others on the basis of race, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, or national origin.
7.2. Once the naturopathic physician-patient relationship has begun, the naturopathic physician shall provide care until care is complete, the patient ends the relationship, or the naturopathic physician has discharged the patient from care.
7.3. If a naturopathic physician justifiably desires to end the naturopathic physician-patient relationship, and if continued medical care is appropriate, the naturopathic physician shall document a formal referral to an appropriate health care provider(s).
8. Communication: A naturopathic physician has a duty to not only communicate effectively with a patient, but also to educate the patient and convey relevant information in terms the patient can understand, providing adequate opportunity for the patient to ask questions and discuss matters related to the patient's care.
8.1. A naturopathic physician shall transfer a patient's records to another health care provider at the request of the patient, in accordance with appropriate and applicable legal guidelines, in a reasonable and timely fashion, and at reasonable cost.
8.2. A naturopathic physician shall maintain confidentially of all patient records unless otherwise instructed by the patient or required by law.
9. Conflicts of interest: If a naturopathic physician is faced with a conflict of interest, the conflict shall be resolved in the best interest of the patient.
9.1. If a naturopathic physician has any financial interests that may conflict with appropriate medical care, the naturopathic physician shall disclose those interests to the patient.
9.2. A naturopathic physician who makes written or oral public statements concerning specific products sold by a company from which the naturopathic physician receives compensation, or in which the naturopathic physician holds an ownership interest, shall disclose this financial relationship in those public statements.
10. Improper conduct: A naturopathic physician shall not prescribe, provide, or seek compensation for medical services that are not specifically indicated for an individual patient.
11. Influence: A naturopathic physician shall not exert influence over a patient to undertake any action that is contrary to the patient's best interest.
12. Accepting gifts: A naturopathic physician shall not accept gifts or loans from any individual or entity that are deemed to influence the naturopathic physician's professional clinical judgment.
13. Conviction of a crime, substantially related to the qualifications, functions or duties of a naturopathic physician, the record of conviction being conclusive evidence thereof
13.1. License revocation - Any member whose licensure to practice their designated type of medicine, in the cases of persons whom fall under the membership classifications Fellow, Fellow (inactive), Regular or Allied above, has been revoked shall automatically cease to be a member.
13.2. Such membership may be renewed if and when the revoked license has been restored.
14. Interference: Interfering or attempting to interfere with the duties of the Executive Committee, Board, or the Association
Last Revised & Adopted by OncANP BOD 4/16/15