Code of Ethics for Homeopathic Practitioners
Texas Society of Homeopathy
(TSH)
http://www.txsoho.com/
INTRODUCTION
The Texas Society of Homeopathy (TSH) recognizes that practitioners
of homeopathy should organize. This has proven, especially at the
national level, to be very complicated. Existing attempts to organize
have centered on medical training, homeopathy training, licensure,
certification, or theory of homeopathy. Homeopathy is politically
the weakest whole medical system in this country, in large part
because there is no national organization which represents the interests
of all homeopaths.
Organizing based on licensure or certification, the main ways our
community has tried to organize, cannot be effective for at least
two reasons.
* There is historically a strong feeling that the needs of the
unlicensed homeopaths are different than those of the licensed.
* The regulation of health care practitioners is on a state by state
basis. There is no federal regulation of health care practitioners.
Each state has at least 20 different licensed health care modalities.
This means that there are at least 1,000 different regulatory schemes
that homeopathy could fall under. Many licensed health care practitioners
cannot practice homeopathy under the scope of their license. The
practice of homeopathy by unlicensed persons has statutory support
in only 5 states.
Thus, it makes little sense for the unlicensed practitioners to
distinguish themselves by lack of a license, since so many practitioners
with licenses cannot practice homeopathy under the scope of their
license.
What is needed is a mechanism for organizing based on criteria
that is neutral with regard to training, certification, and licensure,
and which fits with the existing regulatory environment.
Since health care practitioners are regulated on a state by state
basis, it makes sense that the basic organizational unit is state
based. Since training, licensure and certification cannot be justified
as primary criteria around which to organize, it makes sense to
organize around standards of practice.
The TSH has responded to these concerns with the model of self-regulation.
TSH is a 501(c)(3) organization, not a professional trade organization
(501(c)(6)). Because of this, and because it wants to stimulate
and support the ultimate formation of a professional trade society
of homeopaths in Texas, it is planning to implement a new class
of membership, the Practitioner Member ("PM"). Anyone
who says they practice homeopathy in Texas can join, with the exception
of practitioners who primarily rely on electronic equipment for
diagnosis and/or treatment and practitioners who only use prepackaged
remedies according to the labels. In other words, anyone who calls
themselves a homeopath and uses Hahnemann's theory of disease and
the law of similars is eligible to join as a PM. The PM will be
required to agree to abide by the Code of Ethics, including the
dispute resolution procedures. All PM's qualify to be listed on
the website as a practitioner, and all listings will include educational
and practice information.
The Code of Ethics will be the neutral rules around which the community
of practitioners will organize. Since it is state-based it will
be responsive to the unique regulatory climate of Texas, and can
work most effectively with the Texas health-freedom movement, and
other legislative, political and judicial solutions to regulatory
problems. Within a relatively short period of time, TSH will encourage
the practitioners to form their own trade organization.
------------------------
Guiding principles from the Organon.
1.
Organon § 1
The homeopath's high and only mission is to restore the sick to
health, to cure.
2.
Organon § 2
The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration
of the health, or removal and annihilation of the subtle, spirit-like
disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable, and
most harmless way, on easily comprehensible principles.
3.
Organon §§ 4 & 5
A homeopath is a true practitioner of homeopathy when he
or she understands how to treat judiciously and rationally, according
to clearly defined principles. This will be the case if the practitioner:
- clearly
perceives what is to be cured, that is to say, in every individual
case has knowledge of the particular totality manifested in the
Client;
- clearly
perceives what is curative in medicines, that is to say, for each
individual medicine has knowledge of its medicinal powers;
- knows how to pick the correct
remedy according to the law of similars and to use it appropriately
in terms of dose and repetition;
- knows the obstacles to recovery
in each case and is aware how to remove them, so that the restoration
may be permanent; and
- knows the things that derange
health and cause disease, and how to remove them from persons
in health.
Aspirational
principles for the Homeopath as a professional health care provider
4.
Dignity and self-determination
The dignity and human rights of the Client shall be recognized,
remembered and respected at all times, with special attention to
the Client’s right to self-determination and autonomy. comment
5.
Trust
The Homeopath shall interact with the Client in such a way as to
engender the Client’s trust in the Homeopath. The Homeopath shall
behave respectfully, honestly, compassionately and courteously to
the Client at all times, and maintain professional boundaries. comment
6.
Loyalty
The Homeopath shall be loyal to his or her Client, and keep the
Client’s confidences. comment
7.
Avoiding harm
The Homeopath shall not take any course of action from which it
is reasonably foreseeable harm could come to the Client, or refrain
from taking a course of action when it is reasonably foreseeable
such omission would result in harm to the Client. comment
8.
Beneficence
The Homeopath shall take actions which benefit the Client. comment
9.
Social justice
The Homeopath shall take actions that further the dignity and
human rights of all people, especially with regard to the right
to health, the right to make free health care choices, and the right
of access to health care. comment
Prescriptive
and proscriptive clinical practice standards
10.
General Principles
Clients are entitled to a professional standard of practice
and care, including a competent practitioner who has responsible
and ethical relationships with her Clients, colleagues, profession
and the public, who maintains appearances and is hygienic, and is
responsible with staff, medicines, equipment, records and fees. comment
11.
Nomenclature - Definitions comment
-
Cure
or heal
-
Disease
-
Disorder:
-
Diagnosis
-
Doctor
or physician
-
Drug
-
Energy
or subtle or spirit-like
-
“Finding
the totality” or “taking the case”
-
Clients,
clients or consumers
-
Remedy
-
Treatment
-
Vital
Force
12.
Competence of the Homeopath
The Homeopath shall not represent themselves to the public as
being a Homeopath, and shall not accept money for homeopathic treatment,
without adequate training and experience in the theory and practice
of homeopathy and without training in basic allopathic concepts
and language. comment
13.
Use of other modalities
The Homeopath, if trained in and using other modalities, shall
provide the client with the services the client requests, and shall
not mix or confuse homeopathy with any other modality. comment
14.
Provision of treatment
The Homeopath should make every reasonable effort to treat and
continue to treat his or her Clients. comment
15.
Controlled acts restricted
No Homeopath shall perform a controlled act as defined below in
the course of providing health care services to an individual unless,
the Homeopath is licensed by the State to perform the controlled
act; or the performance of the controlled act has been delegated
to the Homeopath pursuant to law; or the Homeopath is exempted by
law from restrictions on the performance of the controlled act. comment
16.
Allopathic Medication
A Homeopath shall not recommend to a Client to stop taking any allopathic
medications that have been ordered by a Physician, unless the Homeopath
is a licensed Physician and has expertise in the drug the Client
is on and disease it is prescribed for. comment
17.
Taking a case that has been treated by allopathic health care providers
A Homeopath should respect existing and ongoing therapeutic relationships
the Client may have with allopathic health care providers. comment
18.
Clients under the care of another homeopath
A Homeopath should respect their professional colleagues. comment
19.
Client records, privacy and confidentiality
A Homeopath shall keep clear, detailed and accurate records relating
to the care of the Client, and keep all confidences of the Client,
except as otherwise required. comment
20.
Free Consent and consent documents
The Homeopath shall keep a separate written agreement memorializing
a person’s understanding and free consent to medical treatment,
to be a research subject, or to let their records be used for educational
purposes. comment
21.
Availability of the Homeopath
The Homeopath should make his or her availability to see Clients
clearly known. comment
22.
Boundary Issues and professional conduct
The Homeopath shall maintain clear boundaries in all therapeutic,
educational and supervisory relationships. comment
23.
Complaints
Homeopaths have the right to due process in the handling of
complaints against them, and to be judged by their peers, and they
have the duty to respond completely, honestly, timely and in a fair
manner. comment
24.
Fees
A Homeopath’s fees shall be appropriate and consistent with his
or her training, experience, competencies, and community. comment
Relations
with the public
25.
Publicity and advertising
Advertisements, stationery and name plates should maintain a high
standard of propriety. comment
26.
Talking about Homeopathy and Client/practitioner rights
The Homeopath should be careful when discussing the theory and practice
of homeopathy. comment
Relations
with the Homeopathic Community
27.
Membership in a trade organization
The Homeopath should belong to a trade organization. comment
28.
Relations with colleagues
The Homeopath should maintain cordial and professional relations
with his or her colleagues, regardless of educational background.
comment
29.
Auditing the Practice
The Homeopath should have procedures in place to audit his or her
practice. comment
Guidance
in specific areas
30.
Public health notifiable diseases
It is required by law in every state to report certain diseases
to the public health authorities. The Homeopath should report these
cases as appropriate. comment
31.
Other important conditions when Client confidentiality may be violated
The Homeopath may be required, ethically or legally, to violate
Client confidentiality in any of the following circumstances:
- child
or elder abuse;
- pursuant
to valid court order;
- suspicion
of notifiable disease (see Appendix 4);
- the
Client presents a danger to themselves or others;
- as
required by other law, such as HIPAA; or
- in
an emergency situation when there is a reasonable likelihood the
information will result in the prevention of imminent serious
harm. comment
32.
Vaccines
Homeopaths should not tell a Client, directly or indirectly, that
a homeopathic remedy, or combination of them, is a vaccine or can
act in lieu of a vaccine. comment
33.
Aggravations
The possibility of aggravations should be disclosed to the Client
as part of the free consent process. comment
34.
Disclosure of the remedy and use of placebo
The disclosure of the identity of the remedy and the Homeopath’s
use of placebo, as part of case management, should be discussed
and agreed to in the free consent process. comment
35.
Vulnerable Clients – surrogate decision makers
The Homeopath should be mindful when treating Clients who cannot
make their own health care decisions that there are potentially
several parties who have an interest in the health care decisions. comment
Research
36.
Provings or primary homeopathic research
Homeopaths, in the course of their career, should be subjects in
provings, should encourage others in the community to engage in
provings, and should conduct provings, if opportunity, training
and interest coincide. comment
37.
Protection of research subjects
Homeopaths who sponsor, design and conduct, or participate in, provings
other than as a subject are responsible to insure the protection
of research subjects. comment
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