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007.05.14-5. Code of Ethics

AR ADC 007.05.14-5Arkansas Administrative CodeEffective: July 4, 2022

West's Arkansas Administrative Code
Title 007. Department of Health
Division 05. Health Facility Services
Rule 14. Rules for Perfusionists in Arkansas
Effective: July 4, 2022
Ark. Admin. Code 007.05.14-5
007.05.14-5. Code of Ethics
Currentness
PREAMBLE: The purpose of a code of ethics is to acknowledge a profession's acceptance of the responsibility and trust conferred upon it by society and to recognize the internal obligations inherent in that trust. The following paragraphs delineate the standards governing the conduct of perfusionists in their professional interactions with patients, colleagues, other health professionals and the general public. Realizing that no code can encompass all ethical responsibilities of the perfusionists, this enumeration of obligations in the code of ethics is not comprehensive and does not constitute a denial of the existence of other obligations, equally imperative, and not specifically mentioned herein. This code of ethics shall be binding on all perfusionists in Arkansas.
A. CANON 1
1. Perfusionists must uphold the dignity and honor of the profession, accept its disciplines and expose without hesitation illegal, unethical and incompetent conduct.
2. INTERPRETIVE STATEMENTS
(a) Perfusionists are part of a collaborative effort to deliver proper health care to the patient under the perfusionist care.
(b) The perfusionist has a personal, as well as a professional, obligation to protect and safeguard the patients from illegal and unethical actions or the incompetence of any person.
(c) The perfusionist must maintain personal integrity and establish the appropriate means to fully protect his freedom of conscience for the delivery of services to the patient.
(d) A perfusionist who demonstrates incompetence or illegal conduct as it pertains to the Code of Ethics shall be exposed to the proper authorities.
B. CANON 2
1. Perfusionists shall respect the patients' rights and dignity and shall uphold the doctrine of confidentiality regarding privileged patient information.
2. INTERPRETIVE STATEMENTS
(a) Information about the patient's clinical situation will be kept confidential, unless otherwise required by law, in order to protect the welfare of an individual or community. Written guidelines or protocols of an institution or department may be instrumental in deciding the manner in which confidential information is handled for release.
C. CANON 3
1. Perfusionists shall provide only those services for which they are qualified. Perfusionists shall not misrepresent in any manner, either directly or indirectly, their skills, training, professional credentials, identity or services.
2. INTERPRETIVE STATEMENTS
(a) Perfusionists will accept responsibility for the exercise of sound judgement in the delivery of services to the patient and shall be accountable for the quality of the service provided.
(b) Perfusionists will provide accurate information about the profession, and services they provide, as well as the perfusionists' own qualifications.
(c) The perfusionists shall not engage in practices beyond their competence or training.
(d) Perfusionists shall not delegate to a less qualified person any activity which requires the unique skill, knowledge and judgement of a formally educated perfusionist. Services rendered by supportive personnel will be under the supervision of a formally educated perfusionist.
D. CANON 4
1. Perfusionists shall strive to improve their medical knowledge and skills on a continuing basis.
2. INTERPRETIVE STATEMENTS
(a) Perfusionists shall support quality didactic and clinical education.
(b) Professional conduct will be maintained toward perfusionists peers, students, medical staff and patients.
(c) Perfusionists shall participate in educational activities, either by individual study or through continuing education, which will enhance their basic knowledge in order to continue to provide quality health care to the patient.
E. CANON 5
1. Perfusionists shall maintain and promote high standards for perfusion practice which may include education, research and scientific presentations or publications.
F. CANON 6
1. A perfusionist shall at all times hold the well-being of the patient to be paramount and shall not act in such a way as to bring the member's interests into conflict with the patient's interests. A perfusionist shall deliver health care services without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, religion, sexual preference or physical or mental condition.
2. INTERPRETIVE STATEMENTS
(a) A perfusionist professional practice and adherence to ethical principles shall take preference over business practices.
(b) Perfusionists shall place service before material gain.
(c) A perfusionist shall fully disclose to clientele other business practices that may appear as conflict of interest to clientele and/or public. These may include but are not limited to:
(i) Consultant for fee.
(ii) Clinical instructor (support staff for industry).
(iii) Sales representative.
(iv) Technical advisor.
(v) Lecture for fee.
(vi) Acceptance of fees, gratuities, funding from industry.
3. In that the ultimate concern is to improve patient care, it is our position that clinicians engaged in the practice of cardiopulmonary bypass are required to and must be allowed to periodically evaluate the equipment which is utilized in cardiopulmonary bypass in the effort of continuously improving patient care which should include not only patient outcomes but safety as well.
4. To this end, the State Board of Health holds that each perfusionist has the following ethical and professional responsibilities:
(a) The perfusionist being the most qualified individual, by training, education, experience, and job description has the responsibility to evaluate, recommend, select, and implement the components of the extra-corporeal circuit so that patient safety and care are optimized.
(b) The perfusionist will always attempt to fairly evaluate all competing products and services, with the principal selection criteria being that of regard for patient safety and well-being.
(c) The perfusionist shall always base any decision on product and service selection on clinical evaluations and documented clinical and scientific data.
5. In conclusion, it is the responsibility of the perfusionist to make decisions regarding the selection of clinical products with the patient as the primary concern.

Credits

Amended July 1, 2012; July 4, 2022.
Current with amendments received through February 15, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credit for details.
Ark. Admin. Code 007.05.14-5, AR ADC 007.05.14-5
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