CODE OF PRACTICE FOR VIRTUAL SCANNING
VIRTUAL SCANNING is a distinct assessment and treatment discipline within the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and works by stimulating the self-healing powers of the human body.
CAM practitioners adhere to the same high professional standards governing conventional medical practitioners and pledge to -
- make the care of their patients their first concern
- treat every patient politely and considerately
- respect patients' dignity and privacy
- listen to patients and respect their views
- give patients information in a way they can understand
- respect the rights of patients to be fully involved in decisions about their care
- uphold at all times the standards of good practice and care expected of them
- keep their professional knowledge and skills up to date
- recognise the limits of their professional competence
- be honest and trustworthy
- respect and protect confidential information
- make sure that personal beliefs do not prejudice their patients' care
- act quickly to protect patients from risk if they feel that they or a colleague may not be fit to practice
- avoid abusing their position of trust
- work with colleagues in ways that best serve the patients' interests
1. The Patient - Practitioner Relationship
1.1 The relationship between practitioner and patient is that of professional and client and should at all times be conducted appropriately and on the basis of complete confidentiality.
1.2 The practitioner will maintain at all times patient documentation in the standard format and will obtain the following basic information when first accepting a new patient -
- name, address, contact telephone numbers and date of birth;
- dates of treatments;
- details of treatments;
- current and recent medication
After the initial scan, assessment and treatment the following details will be required
- essential details of medical history, incl. details of their regular GP / doctor and
- an indication of whether this doctor is aware of VIRTUAL SCANNING treatment being received;
1.3 The nature of VIRTUAL SCANNING therapy requires that the practitioner, on first accepting a patient, explain to this patient how VIRTUAL SCANNING works and what the healing process may entail (e.g the healing crisis). The practitioner shall further exercise restraint and caution with regard to the administration of any form of treatment which may potentially be to the detriment of the patient. Whenever possible, any specific treatment to be provided should be explained in advance so that the patient is given an opportunity to ask additional questions or express reservations.
1.4 The practitioner should never exaggerate the gravity of a patient's condition, nor make any promise, nor give any guarantee as to the results of VIRTUAL SCANNING treatment, to the patient, to the patient's representative, or in any other public forum.
1.5 Practitioners shall at all times conduct themselves in a courteous manner, and with due regard to their professional relationship with their patients, irrespective of a person's age, disability, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political affiliation.
1.6 In situations in which the patient's treatment may require medical diagnosis or reaches beyond the competency or experience of a VIRTUAL SCANNING practitioner, s/he is required to seek appropriate advice from a suitably qualified supervisor or medical doctor. Non-medical VIRTUAL SCANNING Practitioners are not entitled to offer diagnostic services, except where additional qualifications have been obtained and are so recorded against their names.
1.7 A Practitioner must not abuse or disturb the nature of the professional relationship between practitioner and patient. Under no circumstances shall a Practitioner exploit a patient financially, sexually, emotionally or in any other manner.
1.8 Practitioners who become aware that a patient may be leaning towards behaviour inappropriate to a professional practitioner / patient relationship should refer the patient to another practitioner.
2.0 Examination and Treatment of Patients
2.1 Non-medical practitioners may not prescribe, advise treatments or recommend medication or foods by virtue of their VIRTUAL SCANNING qualification alone; they may only do so where their other qualifications so permit, or where they do so expressly in a lay-capacity. Practitioners may however advise the patient to seek certain types of help from other professions when, in their professional opinion, such appear appropriate.
2.2 For purposes of treatment planning, the practitioner may rely on the information provided on patient's registration as being accurate and complete where the patient has expressly so stated and confirmed by original signature in the registration documentation. Where expressly requested and authorised by the Client, the Practitioner shall communicate with the patient's regular GP / doctor.
2.3 The right of a patient to refuse any particular treatment should at all times be respected by the practitioner.
2.4 Except with the express consent of the patient or, in the case of a minor, his/her parent or guardian, no third party may be present during consultation or treatment.
2.5 Written consent for the examination and/or treatment of a minor should be obtained, from their parent or guardian, prior to any such treatment or examination being performed. The presence during examination / treatment of the minor's parents or guardian is required.
2.6 Good practice requires that the practitioner inform his/her patient whenever in his/her view continued VIRTUAL SCANNING treatment is unlikely to achieve the desired effect.
3.0 Patient Records and Confidentiality
3.1 The practitioner shall maintain careful records of all patient contacts, consultations, treatments etc. These records need to be securely retained for a period of not less than 7 years.
3.2 All information held by the practitioner with regard to a patient shall at all times remain strictly confidential, except when the explicit and unequivocal consent of the patient has been obtained in the circumstances given below.
3.3 A patient has the right to see all information held on her/himself by the practitioner, who should ensure that any medical or specialist terms used should be explained to the patient.
3.4 A practitioner is responsible for ensuring all information held by him/herself with regard to a patient remains confidential and up to date, in accordance with data protection legislation in the country of practice.
3.5 A practitioner may disclose confidential information regarding a patient to another practitioner or medical person for the purposes of gaining a second opinion, or maintaining statistical information, providing that the patient is not named, nor any other method of identification of the patient is included.
3.6 A practitioner may, with the patient's agreement, disclose confidential information regarding a patient to another practitioner acting as locum and under the same conditions and duty of confidentiality.
3.7 For purposes of completing statistical evaluations, identity-neutralised data from patients' records may be extracted and released for ISTA-approved research purposes only.
3.8 Practitioners should make adequate arrangements for the care of their patients in the event of holiday absences, death or the intended sale of the practice; in the latter event the permission of the patient is required before the transfer of records is permitted.
3.10 Practitioners should be aware of national regulations regarding the storage of patient documentation.
4. Responsibilities of Members to the Profession
4.1 A practitioner shall not bring VIRTUAL SCANNING, and shall refrain from disparaging the work of colleagues, or in any way speak disrespectfully of them, in public.
4.2 A practitioner shall maintain the high standards of professional conduct and shall observe the highest degree of integrity and responsibility in VIRTUAL SCANNING practice.
4.3 No practitioner shall offer, undertake or participate in the training or teaching of VIRTUAL SCANNING technology unless formally qualified to do so, or, in exceptional circumstances, where express permission of the relevant Professional Standards Committee has been given in writing.
4.4 No claim of any kind shall be made, in writing or otherwise, by a practitioner in respect of the cure of any specific disease by VIRTUAL SCANNING Therapy, unless formal clinical trial results have been advised by the relevant Professional Standards Committee.
4.5 No practitioner shall entice patients from the care of professional colleagues; while the ethos of VIRTUAL SCANNING technology encourages patients to change practitioners until the right healing balance has been established. Practitioners are required to handle such patient-initiated transfers with the same professional courtesy as if they had initiated the transfer themselves.
4.6 Practitioners shall not use titles or descriptions suggesting medical qualifications unless they possess such, and, remain registered either with the appropriate professional body of the country in which they trained or in which they currently practice. Were registered in a country other than the one in which they practice, they are advised to state this country alongside the qualification.
4.7 Practitioners are required at all times to discharge their obligations and responsibilities towards VIRTUAL SCANNING technology and colleagues in a timely and courteous manner. They will advise the Secretary immediately of any untoward local comments or occurrences pertaining to VIRTUAL SCANNING Technology and/or their practice.
4.8 Practitioners are required to ensure that they practice from premises that comply with local health & safety regulations. To this effect the treatment area and the on-duty practitioner are required to operate a no-smoking policy.
4.9 Practitioners are required to give maximum notice of any changes of address, contact details, and other relevant changes in circumstances to their existing clients.
4.10 A practitioner should hold valid insurances covering medical malpractice, professional indemnity, patient, public and product liabilities. In some national jurisdictions such insurance is either not obligatory or not available.
5.1 Practitioners may insert professional displays in health journals and magazines or any other suitable publications.
5.2 Practitioners may announce the commencement of practice in a newspaper advertisement in a style appropriate to a professional practitioner. Changes of address or other alterations, such as times of consulting, may be announced in a similar manner.
5.3 Advertisements should refrain from making any unjustified claims about the effectiveness and duration of VIRTUAL SCANNING treatment and should restrict themselves to factual information.
6.0 Practitioners Training and Levels
6.1 All practitioners must go through a training programme.
6.2 To be eligible for professional training, a candidate must at least hold certificates of proficiency in anatomy and physiology, or psychology or be undergoing a recognized course of training.
7.1 A practitioner is required to act in accordance with all laws pertaining to the practice of complementary and alternative medicine and patient- and health-care in the country in which s/he practices.
7.2 A practitioner shall not treat any condition which s/he is proscribed from doing by statute, or law. It is the responsibility of each practitioner to be informed about which conditions they may or may not treat and their medico-legal position.
7.3 Notifiable Diseases should be reported in accordance with applicable regulations for the country in which the treatment is being given.
