Chiropractors treat spinal injuries, but can also adjust joints in extremities.
Ethics courses exist in all U.S. chiropractic colleges, and emphasize standards for the industry. The American Chiropractic Association code of ethics, revised in 2007, upholds these standards for practicing chiropractors.
Information
Since chiropractic treatment is medical in nature, privacy rules apply. Chiropractors must fully inform patients regarding the details of their treatment and prognosis.
Trust
To maintain trust, chiropractors must be honest with patients about every aspect of treatment. The code of ethics specifically cautions against raising undue expectations for the outcome of treatment, and addresses sexual misconduct, which "adversely affects the public welfare and harms patients." Chiropractic ethics also apply to advertising, and chiropractors may not use deceptive marketing practices.
Collaboration
The code encourages chiropractors to consult with other professionals and remain open to referring patients to outside sources when a disorder will respond better to non-chiropractic treatment.
Choice
Chiropractors may choose which patients they serve, but cannot discriminate based on "race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, creed, gender, handicap or sexual preference." Additionally, if a doctor chooses to stop treating someone, he should send notification immediately. This gives patients an opportunity to find another provider without a lapse in treatment.
Legal Considerations
All federal laws and regulations apply to chiropractic practice. Doctors must report any questionable or illegal behavior to the appropriate authorities and provide legal testimony when requested.
Tags: American Chiropractic, American Chiropractic Association, Chiropractic Association, code ethics