Chapter 9 - CODE OF ETHICS

Current through 2022-14, April 6, 2022

Summary: This chapter contains the Code of Ethics for the performance of alcohol and drug counseling services.

Alcohol and drug counselors, alcohol and drug counseling aides and certified clinical supervisors shall:

1. Respect the rights, dignity and person of each client;

2. Make timely referrals to other health care professionals as may be appropriate;

3. Terminate a counseling relationship when it is or should be reasonably clear to the counselor or clinical supervisor that the client is not benefiting from it. When a client refuses treatment, referral or recommendations, the counselor and clinical supervisor shall carefully consider the welfare of the client by weighing the benefits of continued treatment or termination, and shall act in the best interest of the client.

4. Report to the board an alcohol and drug counselor, alcohol and drug counseling aide or certified clinical supervisor whose judgment or competency while treating clients is impaired by chemical dependency or physical or mental incapacity;

5. Keep the client informed about treatment and treatment options;

6. Avoid making unrealistic promises to clients or creating unrealistic expectations;

7. Use clinical and other materials in classroom teaching and writing only when the persons involved are adequately de-identified;

8. Obtain the client's informed consent before recording an interview, using an interview for training purposes, or permitting observation of an interview by another person. Provision of services shall not be conditioned upon the client's consent to any of the above;

9. Protect the welfare and dignity of clients participating in research and obtain informed consent from participating clients prior to commencement of the project or study in which the patient is a subject;

10. Use appropriate professional or personal channels to correct behavior detrimental to the client or the public;

11. Make no public statements regarding the effectiveness of alcohol and drug counseling that are outside the generally accepted experience of the profession as a whole or not within the individual counselor's experience;

12. Not use a counseling relationship with a client to promote personal gain or the profit of an agency or commercial enterprise of any kind; and

13. Not accept a private fee, gratuity or consideration of any kind for counseling services with a person who is entitled to such services at a reduced fee through an institution or agency without informing the client that such an option is available.

Notes

EFFECTIVE DATE:
February 4, 1991 - as Chapter 6
AMENDED:
February 1, 1993
EFFECTIVE DATE (ELECTRONIC CONVERSION):
November 13, 1996
REPEALED AND REPLACED:
November 1, 2004 - as Chapter 9, filing 2004-234

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 32 M.R.S.A. §6212(9)