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UKAHPP
Ethical Review Procedure
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This procedure is effective from November 2002 until revised. 1 Introduction 1.2 The overriding intent of the UKAHPP Ethical Review Procedure is to provide a mechanism whereby UKAHPP Members and members of the public may be protected while flexibility and creativity in support of personal and professional development is facilitated. 1.3 The UKAHPP Ethical Review Procedure enables UKAHPP Members and/or clients to obtain prior clarification as to whether a proposed course of action, or mode of conduct, would constitute an ethical violation. Where procedures or behaviours operate on the borderline of such violations, it is to help the UKAHPP Member and clients to work in an approved way within a framework of checks and balances under UKAHPP approval, perhaps monitored by a third party. 1.4 The UKAHPP Ethical Review Procedure covers all Ethical Principles
and Code of Practice considerations. It is most likely to be invoked
to explore boundary issues between UKAHPP Member and client, but may
be used to adjudicate many other issues and offer guidance and protection.
Some possibilities are: 1.5 It is recognised that a request to invoke the UKAHPP Ethical Review Procedure is indicative of the highest professional intent. 1.6 The administration of the UKAHPP Ethical Review Procedure follows protocols laid down by the UKAHPP Ethics Committee. 1.7 The Ethical Review Procedure can only be initiated prior to a proposed course of action, or immediately on realising that a potentially unethical course of action, or mode of practice, is being pursued by themselves, or by another Member of UKAHPP. Where it is the actions, or mode of practice, of another Member that is causing concern, the Member experiencing the concern should, in the first instance, attempt to resolve the issue informally and directly with the Member causing the concern. Should this not be possible, or not resolve the issue, then they should initiate an Ethical Review. An Ethical Review can only be initiated by a UKAHPP Member concerned about their own, or another UKAHPP Member’s, actions or mode of practice. The procedure cannot be applied retrospectively. 1.8 Where UKAHPP Members realise they may have breached any of the UKAHPP Codes in the past they should inform the Ethics Officer, who will decide upon the appropriate course of action. Where another Member is believed to have breached the Codes in the past, the Member suspecting the breach should, in the first instance, attempt to resolve the issue informally and directly with the Member concerned. Should this not be possible, or not resolve the issue, then they should inform the Ethics Officer, who will decide upon the appropriate course of action. 2 The Ethical Review Procedure 2.2 An Ethical Review can be requested by the following, upon contacting
the Ethics Officer: 2.3 The UKAHPP Ethics Officer requests a member of the UKAHPP Ethics
Committee to explore the issue. The UKAHPP Ethics Committee member may
discuss the issue with other Members of the UKAHPP Ethics Committee but
is not bound to do so, especially if the point under discussion has been
frequently raised in the past. It is understood that timeliness is important
at this point. In contacting the UKAHPP Member, every effort is made
to understand the Member's perspective, support them in their dilemma
and reach a satisfactory solution as soon as possible. In the event that
the review has been requested by a Member of UKAHPP with regard to a
colleague’s actions, or mode of practice, the UKAHPP Ethics Officer
can request the Member whose actions, or mode of practice, are under
review to attend a meeting with those conducting the Review. 2.4 The UKAHPP Ethics Committee member ultimately makes a written response to the UKAHPP Member who has requested the review in the case of 2.2.1. If it has been requested by a UKAHPP Member in relation to another Member’s actions, or mode of practice, as in 2.2.2, the Ethics Committee member ultimately makes a written response to both UKAHPP Members. A summary of the Ethical Review, written by the Committee Member responsible for conducting the Review, is distributed to the Ethics Committee Members and to the UKAHPP Board. One copy is retained on file by the Ethics Officer, thus forming a precedent archive. 2.5 In the event that the UKAHPP Ethics Committee member feels the issue is too important or difficult to be handled alone, s/he contacts the other Committee Members and reaches a consensus on how to handle the issue. This consensus is binding on all concerned. 3 Possible Ethical Review Responses 3.2 Over time, the findings of Ethical Review are incorporated into the Code of Ethical Principles or Code of Practice, whichever is more appropriate. END
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