General

1. The osteopath must make the care of the patient their main concern.
2. The osteopath must act in accordance with conventional osteopathic medicine theory.
3. The osteopath must ensure his continued professional development through courses, conferences and workshops, and follow discoveries and developments in his or her field of practice.
4. The osteopath must keep an organized medical record of all patient, which shall include the following information: patient’s personal details, patient’s complaints, medical history, medical findings, diagnosis, care provided, recommendations made and response to treatment.

Patient Care

1. The osteopath must treat the patient fairly and respectfully.
2. The osteopath must accurately inform the patient, or those responsible for him or her, about his or her medical condition and treatment provided.
3. At the time of treatment, the osteopath must act in full concentration and take the time to listen to the patient’s needs and provide him or her with the proper treatment.
4. The osteopath must not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, or disability.
5. The osteopath must maintain the confidentiality of a patient’s medical details. Confidential information can only be disclosed with patient consent or legal mandate to do so.
6. When an osteopath seeks to terminate a therapeutic relationship, he must inform the patient ahead of time in order to allow him or her to find another therapist.
7. The osteopath must not give a written or oral recommendation that could be interpreted as a denial of conventional medicine. The osteopath must not instruct a patient to take any drug or to stop following a prescribed regimen.
8. Child care: patients under 16 years of age must be treated only under the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The presence of a parent or legal guardian is recommended during treatment of patients under 18 years of age.
9. The osteopath must respect his patient’s rights and dignity, both physically and mentally.
10. The osteopath must not make comments or insinuations of a sexual or abusive nature towards a patient.
11. The osteopath must allow the presence of a chaperone at the time of treatment, and inform the patient of his or her right for a chaperone.

Professional Standards

1. When applicable and when in the interest of the patient, the osteopath must consult with colleagues or other experts in the fields of medicine.
2. The osteopath must treat his or her colleagues with respect in all of his or her communications with patients, students and the general public.
3. Any dispute between osteopaths on professional, ethical or organizational matters, will be first brought to the attention of the association for arbitration.
4. No commission will be paid for patient referral.
5. The osteopath must not obtain new patients through unjust means.

Advertisement

1. The osteopath may advertise his or her services, but is forbidden from advertising anything that is false or misleading.
2. The osteopath must display or advertise only degrees and honors granted by recognized institutions.

Between Teaching Institutions

1. Any school or institution, which teaches osteopathy and is a member of the association, must operate in accordance with the “School Criteria”, published by the association, and with these guidelines for ethical and professional conduct.
2. Any school or institution, which is a member of the association, must treat its students, teachers and fellow institutions with respect and shall refrain from slander at all times.
3. Any school or institution, which is a member of the association, must not attract students from other institutions through unjust or illegal means.