| (a) A licensee shall:
(1) engage in only those aspects of the profession
that are within the scope of the licensee's competence considering
level of education, training, and experience;
(2) insure a safe therapy environment;
(3) provide services as specified in the treatment
plan, Individual Education Plan (IEP), or Individualized Family Service
Plans (IFSP);
(4) seek appropriate medical consultation whenever
indicated;
(5) seek to identify competent, dependable referral
sources for clients;
(6) maintain objectivity in all matters concerning
the welfare of the client;
(7) ensure that all equipment used is in proper working
order and is properly calibrated;
(8) terminate a professional relationship when it is
reasonably clear that the client is not benefiting from the services
being provided;
(9) provide accurate information to clients and the
public about the nature and of communication disorders and about the
profession and the services rendered;
(10) notify the department in writing of changes of
name, highest academic degree granted, address, and telephone number.
The department is not responsible for lost, misdirected, or undelivered
mail;
(11) notify the department of changes in name or mailing
address within 30 days of such change(s). Notification must include
the name, mailing address, and zip code, and be mailed, faxed, or
sent by electronic mail to the department;
(12) inform the department of violations of the Act,
this code of ethics, or of any other provision of this chapter;
(13) comply with any order relating to the licensee
which is issued by the department;
(14) report in accordance with the Family Code §261.101(b),
if there is cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health
or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect
by any person;
(15) cooperate with the department by promptly furnishing
required documents and by promptly responding to a request for information
from, or a subpoena issued by, the department or the department's
designee;
(16) be subject to disciplinary action by the department
if the licensee is issued a written reprimand, is assessed a civil
penalty by a court, or has an administrative penalty imposed by the
attorney general's office under the Crime Victims Compensation Act,
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 56, Subchapter B (effective
until January 1, 2021) and Chapter 56B (effective on January 1, 2021);
(17) comply with the Health and Safety Code, Chapter
85, Subchapter I, concerning the prevention of the transmission of
HIV or Hepatitis B virus by infected health care workers; and
(18) fully inform clients of the:
(A) results of an evaluation within sixty (60) days,
upon request;
(B) nature and possible effects of the services rendered;
and
(C) nature, possible effects, and consequences of activities
if the client is participating in research or teaching activities.
(b) A licensee shall not:
(1) engage in the medical treatment of speech-language
and hearing disorders;
(2) jeopardize a client's safety by any inattentive
behavior;
(3) guarantee, directly or by implication, the results
of any therapeutic procedures except as follows:
(A) a reasonable statement of prognosis may be made;
and
(B) caution must be exercised not to mislead clients
to expect results that cannot be predicted from reliable evidence;
(4) delegate any service requiring professional competence
of a licensee to anyone not licensed for the performance of that service;
(5) provide services if the services cannot be provided
with reasonable skill or safety to the client;
(6) provide any services which create an unreasonable
risk that the client may be mentally or physically harmed;
(7) engage in sexual contact, including intercourse,
kissing, or fondling, with a client or an assistant, intern, or student
supervised by the licensee;
(8) use alcohol or drugs when the use adversely affects
or could adversely affect the licensee's provision of professional
services;
(9) reveal, without authorization, any professional
or personal information about the person served professionally, unless
required by law to do so, or unless doing so is necessary to protect
the welfare of the person or of the community;
(10) participate in activities that constitute a conflict
of professional interest which may include the following:
(A) exclusive recommendation of a product that the
licensee owns or has produced;
(B) lack of accuracy in the performance description
of a product a licensee has developed; or
(C) restriction of freedom of choice for sources of
services or products;
(11) use the licensee's professional relationship with
a client, intern, assistant, or student to promote for personal gain
or profit any item, procedure, or service unless the licensee has
disclosed to the client, intern, assistant, or student the nature
of the licensee's personal gain or profit;
(12) misrepresent the licensee's training or competence;
(13) falsify records;
(14) aid or abet the practice of an unlicensed person
when that person is required to have a license under the Act;
(15) interfere with a department investigation or disciplinary
proceeding by willful misrepresentation or omission of facts to the
department or the department's designee or by the use of threats or
harassment against any person;
(16) intentionally or knowingly offer to pay or agree
to accept any remuneration directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly,
in cash or in kind, to or from any person, firm, association of persons,
partnership, or corporation for securing or soliciting clients or
patronage for or from any health care professional;
(17) endanger the health, welfare, or safety of the
public; or
(18) use threats, threatening behavior, or acts of
violence towards clients, employees, or employers.
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