Code of Professional Conduct (2009) (WA)

12 May 2009 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 1597

MEDICAL RADIATION TECHNOLOGISTS ACT 2006

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

The Code of Professional Conduct of the Medical Radiation Technologists Registration Board of Western Australia (the Board) sets out the behaviour, manner and professional conduct identified by the Board as standards necessary to discharge the duties of Medical Radiation Technologists (Medical Imaging Technologists, Radiation Therapists and Nuclear Medicine Technologists) registered under the Medical Radiation Technologists Act 2006 (the Act).

All Medical Radiation Technologists have a personal and professional responsibility to ensure they uphold these standards of professional conduct, supported by the Board’s Code of Ethics. A breach of the Code of Professional Conduct may be taken into account in determining any disciplinary or impairment matters.

CODES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

1. SAFETY AND QUALITY OF PATIENT CARE

A Medical Radiation Technologist shall—

(a)	have as their primary concern, the welfare and safety of patients, staff and the public;
(b)	provide high quality patient care in keeping with relevant professional standards and codes of practice;
(c)	recognise their responsibility to the patient, alert medically significantly findings to the medical personnel responsible for the patient’s wellbeing and provide an opinion, where necessary, that lies within their knowledge and expertise;
(d)	not carry out or assist with procedures where, in their professional opinion, the risk to the patient is greater than the benefit to be obtained.
(e)	respect a patient’s right to privacy and uphold the confidentiality of information relating to patients and their families as appropriate; and
(f)	ensure their professional responsibilities and standards of practice are not adversely influenced by considerations of religion, sex, race, nationality, party politics, social or economic status or the nature of a patient’s condition.

2. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

A Medical Radiation Technologist shall—

(a)	be personally accountable for their work and professional conduct and actions;
(b)	only accept requests for diagnostic procedures or radiation treatment that are properly authorised in accordance with established or recognised criteria;
(c)	not carry out a procedure that may be considered dangerous or inappropriate;
(d)	maintain effective professional relationships with colleagues and other health professionals and display a respect for their abilities and achievements;
(e)	uphold the honour and dignity of the profession and not engage in any activity that may bring the profession into disrepute;
(f)	be responsible for reporting unethical conduct within the profession to the relevant authorities;
(g)	be responsible for their own professional development to ensure the maintenance of the highest standard of knowledge, skill and attitude through such activities as critical reflection on clinical experience, engaging in post-graduate education, workplace based learning, research and publication;
(h)	comply with principles governing intellectual property, copyright and due acknowledgement in scientific publications and openly declare all financial and non-financial interests in the course of reported scientific findings; and

(i)  comply with the requirements of duly constituted institutional ethics committees in the field of research and the ethical principles and standards as set down by the relevant State, National and International organisations.

3. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

A Medical Radiation Technologist shall—

(a)	at all times, comply with the laws and regulations applicable to their practice in Western Australia;
(b)	ensure they are entitled to practice in Western Australia by complying with registration and licensing requirements; and
(c)	at all times, be aware of and uphold registration and other requirements under the Act and other requirements as required and notified by the Board from time to time.

1598 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 12 May 2009

GUIDANCE NOTES FOR MEDICAL RADIATION TECHNOLOGISTS

A Medical Radiation Technologist should—

1.  at all times perform their duties to the best of their ability with due regard for their patient’s safety and welfare and the safety and welfare of staff and the public;

2.  ensure that techniques and equipment employed in diagnostic procedures or radiation treatments are safe, including having an awareness of possible biological effects and compliance with recommended safety standards and protocols;

3.  maintain their working environment in a safe and hygienic condition according to occupational health and safety requirements, so as to avoid adverse effects to patients or staff;

4.  have concern for the security of pharmaceuticals, patient’s valuables and other general security matters;

5.  be aware of and adhere to work practices as laid down by relevant authorities, including reviews of such work practices, and adequately check procedures to ensure such work practices are being adhered to as part of the routine quality assurance program for the facility;

6.  only perform such duties, including interpreting images, commensurate to their level of competence, training and clinical experience, as part of an accepted protocol that is authorised by the employing authority;

7.  approach the referring medical practitioner with any questions or objections regarding any request which they consider is, or may be, inappropriate or which may need clarification;

8.  not recommend a particular medical practitioner or medical practice unless a member of the public who is seeking medical advice specifically asks for such recommendation;

9.  provide information, and an opinion that falls within their knowledge and expertise, and take reasonable precautions to ensure such information and opinion are both accurate and appropriate in the circumstances of the case;

10.  endeavour to protect the public from misinformation or misrepresentation of information regarding medical procedures and, when wishing to inform the public of any such information bring the matter to the attention of the appropriate authorities;

11.  at all times, take care when releasing information to the media that their comments are, to their knowledge, truthful and not likely to place the practice of their profession in disrepute;

12.  treat the confidentiality of information concerning patients and their families as a fundamental convention and, within their area of responsibility, ensure access to such information or records is restricted to those staff who have need to use that information;

13.  act as part of the health care team and accept responsibility relevant to their professional experience when assisting subordinates, peers or other health care professionals;

14.  exercise constraint in the use of awards, civil decorations, qualifications or descriptions of membership or organisations in association with their name and professional qualifications but use such letters where they are relevant in the context of their practice; and

15.  not engage in conduct that would bring the profession into disrepute, whether by acting unlawfully or improperly, or by disregarding the reasonably accepted standards of behaviour both within and outside their profession or otherwise and shall not—

(a) issue false or misleading statements;

(b) allow others to use their name, qualifications, address or photograph in connection with the distribution to the public of any medical product or the provision of their professional services for the purposes of obtaining personal or professional advantage;

(c) canvas directly for patients;

(d)	misconduct themselves with a patient in a sexual or other physical manner;
(e)	attend a patient while their judgement is impaired by alcohol or drugs or other mental impairment; or
(f)	misrepresent to a patient the duties they have performed with the intent to obtain additional payments.

Authorised by the MRTR Board—10 March 2009.

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