Student Code Of Ethics

Aims and Objectives
It is our intent to train professional homoeopaths up to the standards of registration of the New Zealand Council of Homoeopaths (and affiliated professional bodies in the international homoeopathic community, such as the Society of Homoeopaths, UK). To reach this goal, students will have to pass, in their final year of study, examinations in the areas of Materia Medica, Principles and Philosophy, Case Analysis (including Repertorisation) and Medical Sciences. In addition, candidates for the RCHom are required to submit records of successfully treated cases and undergo a site visit and evaluation by a member of the register. The Wellington College curriculum is structured to provide all the necessary training to prepare students for these exams and clinical assessment.

After completing all the academic and clinical requirements, prospective RCHom. members must sign and agree to abide by a professional Code of Ethics and Practice. Members who fail to abide by the Code of Ethics and Practice can be removed from the register. The Code of Ethics and Practice is extremely important to the recognition of homoepathy as a credible profession. It also protects patients through its strict rules of confidentiality and it encourages strong ties between professional homoeopaths through its guidelines for interaction with colleagues. The Code of Ethics and Practice coupled with the rigorous academic and clinical requirements of the RCHom, help ensure that those homoeopaths on the register can be recommended with confidence to the public at large.

To support the furtherance of homoeopathy, most of the homoepathic faculty of the College are registered members of the NZCH and work diligently towards providing the highest standard of instruction to facilitate students towards this same registration.

The College provides the following Code of Ethics and Practice as a way to prepare students for the NZCH requirements and as guidelines for supporting the profession, protecting patients and promoting the professional reputation of the College and its students. Each student is given a copy of this Code of Ethics and Practice for signature. There is no "policing" of students to check compliance; their conscience and personal integrity will be trusted to ensure these guidelines are adhered to during their time at the college. However, should any flagrant or wilful breech of these guidelines come to the attention of the College faculty, disciplinary action will be taken, up to and including, expulsion from the College.

Specific Student Guidelines
Students must realise that they are ambassadors for both the college and the profession of classical homoeopathy. They must conduct themselves in a way which does not bring disrepute to the college or the profession. This involves the following:

Not to undertake the treatment of cases until after completion of 75 hours of clinical training, sitting-in with homoeopaths approved by the college, plus 25 hours of fully-supervised case-taking and prescribing under the supervision of a clinical tutor. Attempting to manage cases with a limited knowledge is unsupportive of patients' long-term health and demeans the practice of professional homoeopathy by inferring that it can be competently practised by those with an intermediate level of training. It is our contention, in line with international standards, that full clinical competency takes between three and seven years to establish. It is therefore unethical for us to support students in chronic case management until after completion of clinical training. However, this does not mean students can not practise their case taking skills. Students are encouraged to take cases for practice, but not to prescribe for them.

The first year of the College is designed as a full introduction to the philosophy and principles of homoeopathy, repertorising skills, and first aid materia medica and prescribing. Subsequent years expand upon that foundation and extend knowledge in the areas of chronic treatment and case management. We encourage students to use their first aid prescibing skills. However, if symptoms persist students are required to consult with a health care professional.

A student may only be exempted from these guidelines on application to the Principal.

Students must not promote themselves as homoeopaths or use their connection with the College as a means to advertise themselves while still students. Once they have completed the course and been given their diploma, it is appropriate to use the letters Dip.Hom., or a title such as "Professional Homoeopath" or "Classical Homoeopath."

Respect for patient confidentiality is essential at all times, and especially so during professional training. New Zealand is a small community and it is important we protect our patients by not discussing them except in the most professional manner. In clinical situations, it is important not to discuss patients within hearing of other patients; or to talk about cases in any public place.

Student Complaints Policy
Each Year Group at the College elects a Class Representative. It is the role of these Class Representatives, in the first instance, to bring student issues to the attention of the College Principal. This relates in particular to issues concerning faculty and curriculum or course matters.

Wellington College Of Homoeopathy - Code Of Ethics And Practice (synthesised from the NZCH (NZ) and the Society of Homoeopaths [UK])

Guiding Principles
These are to encourage integrity and responsibility in the practice of homoeopathy. They involve having regard for the reputation and advancement of homoeopathy, the needs of the patient and the development of understanding among homoeopaths.

1. The homoeopath's highest and only calling is to make sick people healthy, to heal, as it is termed.

2. A homoeopath shall practise his/her profession with integrity and dignity.

3. The highest standards must be observed in conduct and in the care of the patient.

4. The homoeopath owes loyalty to the patient and should have regard for the wishes of the patient.

5. It is for homoeopaths to encourage their patients to take increasing responsibility for their own healing and learning.

6. Premises should be of a reasonable standard and should be kept, along with all equipment, in a serviceable and hygienic condition.

7. Homoeopaths shall practise with integrity and competence any skills other than homoeopathy that they may use in a course of treatment, making clear to the patient concerned the nature of the treatment offered, and indication of any relevant qualifications for the practice of such skills.

8. Homoeopaths are responsible for continuing their personal and professional development by undertaking further training and study, conferring with colleagues and acquiring knowledge of new theory and practice.

9. Homoeopaths need to monitor their competence and be aware of the necessity to consult with colleagues or to refer a patient to a suitably experienced practitioner.

10. It is important that homoeopaths support and assist each other in their study and practice.

11. Homoeopaths are advised not to disparage, nor speak disrespectfully of fellow homoeopaths either in public or to patients.

12. Homoeopaths shall report research findings and clinical experience methodically, honestly and without distortion. All speculative theories should be stated as such and clearly distinguished. (Acknowledgement of source materials and existing copyrights should be taken into account when presenting information to the profession or the public. Plagiarism is not acceptable in professional homoeopathy.)

Obligations of a Homoeopath

These requirements are for legal and professional reasons. If overlooked, a homoeopath may become involved in difficulties with the general law or with other professional or institutional organisations. A homoeopath is required:

1. To comply with the law of the country and locality where they practise.

2. To advise the professional body immediately of any police or government inquiry into their practice.

3. Not to use the title "Doctor" so as to falsely represent that they are on the Register of the General Medical Council.

4. Not to refer to an assistant as "Nurse" unless that person holds a nursing qualification recognised by the General Nursing Council.

5. Not to conduct a genital examination of any patient, regardless of gender, without a chaperone being present.

6. Not to make a physical examination of a child under 16 except in the presence of a parent or guardian.

7. Not to advertise orally or in writing claims for the cure of any named disease.

8.To avoid giving any homoeopathic, herbal or otherwise, treatment known to, or intended to, terminate pregnancy.

9. To be aware of those diseases which are notifiable and to take appropriate action in these cases.

10. To be careful not to make or sign any false or misleading certificates or reports, nor give such a document to a third party without the consent of the patient concerned.

11. Not to administer any substance for the purpose of carrying out a homoeopathic proving unless the person to whom it is to be administered is a volunteer and understands the nature of the proving process and signs a document to that effect.

Guidelines of Practice Confidentiality

It is not appropriate for the homoeopath to discuss any information about any patient which comes to them through the professional relationship with anyone else unless:

1. They are required to do so by law.

2. In an emergency or other dangerous situation where, in the opinion of the homoeopath, the information may assist in the prevention of possible injury to the patient or another person.

3. If any information is used as material for lectures or other publicity then every possible care must be taken so that the patient does not suffer from it. Nothing in the material must refer to the identity of the patient. If this is not possible, such as in video material, then permission in writing is required before material can be used, i.e. patients must give consent to the nature and extent of disclosures.

Patient/ Practitioner Relationship

1. The patient may lean on the homoeopath and become dependent on them. It should be noted that the goal of the treatment is the development of the patient towards creativity and freedom, towards independence. The homoeopath will stop the treatment if further treatment has no therapeutic value.

2. It is not appropriate for homoeopaths to promote their own religious, political, ideological or spiritual belief systems to a patient. The homoeopath is allowed to talk about these things and give an opinion but never to "evangelise" etc.

3. Questions, examinations and advice must have a therapeutic base. This should be kept in mind especially as regards questions about intimate relationships and sexual practice. Only when this information is needed to differentiate or confirm remedy choice, should these be asked.

4. It is unethical for a homoeopath to have, or attempt to have, any sexual contact with a patient.

5. A practitioner must not exaggerate the gravity of a patient's condition, nor make any promise as to the results of treatment to the patient or anyone else. A homoeopath must not make medical diagnoses. Comments should be limited to homoeopathic prognosis.

6. A homoeopath must keep full records of all treatments of patients, including the Name, Address, Telephone number, Date of Birth, Essential Medical History, Dates of all treatments, Details of remedies given. These records should be kept secure and confidential at all times, access being restricted to the homoeopath, assistants and agents, unless the patient otherwise gives consent.

Relationship with Colleagues

1. A homoeopath should not undertake the treatment of a patient known to be under the care of a fellow homoeopath during the last six months, without the consent of that homoeopath, except in an emergency or if satisfied that the former homoeopath has been duly informed by the patient of the transfer.

2. Homoeopaths are responsible for any assistant taking care of their practice, providing them with easy access to advice and the supervision of a registered or reputable homoeopath when needed. The assistant must also act responsibly, in respect of patient's care and the principal homoeopath.

3. Upon request from the patient, the original homoeopath shall despatch forthwith to the new practitioner an accurate and comprehensive record of that patient's case notes.

© 2007 Wellington College of Homoeopathy