Section 17-7609. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS

 

7609.1A licensed respiratory care practitioner shall:

 

(a)Practice medically acceptable methods of treatment;

 

(b)Present his or her skills, training, scope of practice, certification, professional affiliations, or other qualifications in a manner that is not false or misleading;

 

(c)Practice only within the scope of his or her competence, qualifications, and any authority vested in the licensed respiratory care practitioner by a physician;

 

(d)Continually strive to enhance the knowledge and skill set required to render quality respiratory care to each patient;

 

(e)Participate in activities to promote community and national efforts to meet the health needs of the public;

 

(f)Be familiar with state and federal laws that govern health occupations;

 

(g)Promptly report to the Board any information relative to the incompetent, unsafe, illegal, or unethical practice of respiratory therapy, or any violation of the Act or this chapter;

 

(h)Uphold the dignity and honor of the profession and abide by its ethical principles;

 

(i)Cooperate with other health care professionals;

 

(j)Provide all services in a manner that respects the dignity of the patient, regardless of the patient's social or economic status, personal attributes, or health problems;

 

(k)Refuse any offer of any gift from a patient or friend or relative of a patient for respiratory care provided to the patient;

 

(l)Wear an identifying tag or badge that includes the practitioner's full name and the words "licensed respiratory care practitioner" when practicing respiratory therapy; and

 

(m)Abide by the National Clinical Practice Guidelines published by the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) and any subsequent guidelines published by the AARC.

 

7610.2If the Board investigates a respiratory care practitioner in connection with a respiratory care procedure for which no AARC guideline has been adopted, the Board may contract with the District of Columbia Society for Respiratory Care (also known as the Maryland/District of Columbia Society for Respiratory Care) or any licensed respiratory care practitioner for a determination of whether the respiratory care procedure was conducted consistent with acceptable standards of care.

 

source

As amended by Final Rulemaking published at 46 DCR 7282 (September 17, 1999).