.05 Code of Ethics.

A. A respiratory care practitioner shall:

(1) Practice medically acceptable methods of treatment and may not endeavor to practice beyond the competence and the authority vested in the respiratory care practitioner by the physician;

(2) Continually strive to increase and improve the knowledge and skill to render to each patient the full measure of the respiratory care practitioner's ability;

(3) Be responsible for the competent and efficient performance of assigned duties;

(4) Expose incompetence and illegal or unethical conduct of members of the profession;

(5) Hold in strict confidence all privileged information concerning the patient;

(6) Refer all inquiries to the physician in charge of the patient's medical care;

(7) Accept no gratuities for preferential consideration of the patient;

(8) Guard against conflicts of interest;

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

(10) Be familiar with existing State and federal laws governing the practice of respiratory care and comply with those laws; and

(11) Cooperate with other health care professionals and participate in activities to promote community and national efforts to meet the health needs of the public.

B. A breach of the ethical principles stated in §A of this regulation may be considered immoral or unprofessional conduct in the practice of respiratory care.

C. All services shall be provided with respect for the dignity of the patient, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.