• The primary effort and ultimate goal are for the highest good of the practice member, within the professional boundaries of the practitioner.
•  Honor your profession and NSA, its history, tradition, and evolution.
• Respect your practice member’s rights of confidentiality in the doctor/practice member relationship.
• Recognize the role of Network Spinal Analysis™ as a non-medical approach to advancing spinal and neural integrity, wellness, and emerging strategies for attaining such goals. Acknowledge the special skills of other health care and healing professions 
• Let professional responsibility, integrity, gratitude, and your highest standards of competence and skill be your guiding tenets.
• May you always be in awe of the power of life and the ability of individuals to heal.

The Association for Network Care Code of Ethics encompasses a practitioner’s obligation to his/her practice members, the public, and each other. The NSA practitioner is to abide by Federal, State, provincial, and local statutes for the profession under which license he/she is practicing.

SECTION I
Duties, Obligations and Responsibilities of 
The Practitioner to Their Practice Members

The overriding objective of these principles is for the practitioner to render the greatest possible service and care to humankind consistent with a non–therapeutic NSA based practice. 

Principle I A
Availability and Accessibility

The practitioner shall make himself/herself available and shall be accessible to practice members in need of his/her professional services. 

Section I B
Confidentiality

A NSA practitioner is obliged to keep the trust and confidence of the practice member and the practice member’s family. The following guidelines shall be adhered to:

• The practitioner shall not discuss specific identifying practice member information with another practice member.

• The practitioner shall not discuss specific identifying practice member information with relatives or friends of the practice member without written consent of the practice member.

• The practitioner shall not discuss specific identifying practice member information with any other person without consent of the practice member.

• Specific identifying practice member information shall not, under any circumstances, be reviewed, discussed, or otherwise disclosed to any representative of the news media or any commercial organization without express written consent of the practice member.

All practice member records shall be confidential, secured, current, authenticated, legible, and complete. The clinical record is the property of the office and is maintained for the benefit of the practice member. The practitioner is responsible for safeguarding the records and their content against loss, defacement, tam­pering, and use by unauthorized individuals.

Written consent of the practice member, or his legally qualified representative, is required for the release of clinical and personal information to persons not otherwise authorized to receive the information.

Section I C
Representation of Network Spinal Analysis™ Care

A NSA practitioner shall attend to his/her practice member as often as necessary, according to his/her professional judgment, to ensure the well being of the practice member and continued progress. 

A NSA practitioner shall neither exaggerate nor minimize the gravity of a practice member’s condition, offer any false fear, or make any therapeutic claims that can not be derived from specific case studies, clinical research or personal experience. 

The NSA practitioner shall not discourage a practice member from seeking additional professional assistance or opinions on disease, symptoms, subluxations, or psychological conditions. If, in the course of care, a practice member expresses what may be described as psychological awareness, the practitioner shall consider referring the practice member for appropriate psychological counseling. The NSA practitioner shall not enter into the realm of psychological counseling, nor offer any other professional advice on matters outside his or her scope of practice. The practitioner shall not professionally enter the realm of any profession he or she is not lettered in. 

It is the practitioner’s duty to acquaint a close friend or relative of a practice member who is incapable of caring for him­self/herself about the practice member’s condition, the care being provided, and the particular care needed by the practice member.

Once committed to serving a practice member, a practitioner shall not terminate his/her professional services without appropriate notice, allowing the practice member reasonable time to obtain alternative professional services and giving the discharged practice member any relevant papers and documents.

Section I D
Practice Members’ Bill of Rights 
Within the Office Setting

A practice member shall expect and receive from a practitioner entrusted with the responsibility of delivering NSA care, consideration of their basic rights as human beings to independence of expression, decisions, actions, expression of concern, and respect for their personal dignity at all times.

The practice member shall be asked for reasonable information to assist the practitioner to understand the needs of the practice member relative to the practice of NSA and any professional license he/she is practicing with.

The practice member shall be provided with, and affix a signature to, a written notice of the objective of care before beginning NSA care. The practice member shall be given a copy of this notice.

The following practice member’s rights are an integral part of the Association for Network Care- Canon of Professional Ethics.

• The practice member has the right to impartial access to professional care without regard to race, sex, cultural, national, or ethnic origins, economic, educational, religious or political affiliation, and without having to disclose the source of payment for his/her care.

• The practice member shall be advised of the right to be interviewed and examined privately, as well as in surroundings that permit community.

• The practice member shall be advised of the right to have a person of his/her same sex present during certain physical examinations by a practitioner of the opposite sex. While the practitioner may require the practice member to bare their spine, the practice member has the right to remain in such state of dress only as long as is required to accomplish the spinal examination.

• The practice member has the right to expect information from his/her practitioner concerning the relative state of spinal and neural integrity, prognosis, and the planned course of care, in terms the practice member is able to understand. When it is inadvisable to give such information to the practice member, the information will be made available to a legally authorized representative of the practice member.

• The practice member has the right to expect confidential treatment of all communication and records pertaining to his/her care, and to have his/her health care record seen only by individuals directly involved in his/her care or monitoring the quality of care. Any other release of information shall be provided only upon the practice member’s written authorization or the written authorization of his/her legally authorized representative. 

• A practice member shall be advised if other practitioners, physicians, or other health care personnel propose to engage in or otherwise perform human research affecting his/her care or treatment. The practice member has the privilege and right to refuse to participate in any research project.

• The practice member has the right to receive an itemized, detailed and thorough explanation of all charges, regardless of the source of payment.

• The practice member shall be advised of his/her rights and shall be instructed as to policies that apply to his/her conduct as a practice member.

• The practice member has the right to expect reasonable safety in the office environment.

• The practice member, at his/her own request and expense, has the right to consult with another practitioner or health care practitioner.

Section I E
Consultation and Referral

In difficult or protracted cases, consultation(s) with other healing or health care providers are advisable and recommended. Having requested the opinion, the NSA practitioner shall make available any relevant information and indicate clearly whether he/she wishes the colleague to continue care of the practice member.

A NSA practitioner shall be ready to act upon a practice member’s expressed desire for a consultation with another practitioner or provider regardless of the provider’s feeling about the need for consultation. 

A NSA practitioner shall, when his/her opinion has been requested by a colleague, report in detail his/her findings and recommendations to the colleague and may outline his/her opinion to the practice member. He/she shall continue with the care of the practice member only at the specific request of the attending practitioner or health care provider, and with the consent of the practice member. 

Section I F
Remuneration

The health and welfare of the practice member shall always be of paramount importance. Expectation of payment, or lack thereof, shall not affect the quality of service rendered the practice member.

A NSA practitioner is entitled to receive proper and reasonable compensation for his/her professional services commensurate with the value of the services rendered other members of the profession based on usual and customary practices, experience, time, reputation, and the practice member’s ability to pay. 

A NSA practitioner shall support proper activities designed to enable access to necessary NSA care on behalf of individuals unable to pay reason­able professional fees or are otherwise legally destitute.

Section I G
Equality 

A NSA practitioner shall render responsible care to individuals regardless of race, sex, cultural, national or ethnic origins, or political persuasions, provided there is agreement to the objective of and the method of care provided.

Section I H
Practice Aims

A NSA practitioner shall conduct his/her practice with courtesy, honesty, gratitude and a high degree of professional competence in the care of the practice member. The NSA practitioner shall use the finest application of NSA care available, with regard and respect for the practice member’s right to personal dignity in a non-therapeutic fashion. The aim of each Level of Care shall be discussed with the practice member and outcome assessments shall be performed to assess efficacy of care, and help in planning future care.

Section I I
Guarantees

A NSA practitioner shall not offer or guarantee a cure to any practice member either verbally or in writing.

A NSA practitioner may give a practice member a reasonable estimate regarding the length of time and the number of visits that may be required to favorably impact upon spinal and neural integrity, and the wellness index. The NSA practitioner shall avoid pro­tracted care without outside consultation or referral, in the absence of clinical improvement.

Section I J
Practices Of Questionable Propriety

A NSA practitioner shall avoid participating or assisting in all practices of questionable propriety with his/her practice members, colleagues, family, or other business associates.

A NSA practitioner shall conduct his/her practice in surroundings that will not compromise the quality of practice member care.

A NSA practitioner shall not initiate or otherwise, knowingly participate in any illegal or fraudulent action. He/she should maintain the highest standards of profes­sional conduct so the practice is above reproach.

A NSA practitioner shall not take physical, emotional, sexual, or financial advantage of the public or any practice member he/she serves.

Individual boundaries are to be honored by the practitioner on all levels, especially areas concerning sexuality.

• Language or gestures that may be perceived as sexual in nature, spoken communication that is sexually motivated, or clinical practice that has sexual intent or implications, is in violation of appropriate doctor/practice member boundaries and outside the professional relationship.

•  An intimate, personal practitioner/practice member relationship is inappropriate, in the office or outside the office. If a relationship of this type begins outside the office, it is suggested the practice member be referred to the professional care of another practitioner for the same service, unless very specific boundary situations are reviewed, understood, and agreed upon in advance. Any such relationship must be within the boundaries of appropriate state law.

• A NSA practitioner shall only bill for the service rendered. The service rendered must be consistent with the practice objective of the NSA practitioner and the scope of practice of the license of the practitioner. The practice member’s clinical history and examination/spinal analysis findings, and Level of Care must support this position.

SECTION II
Duties Obligations and Responsibilities of the Practitioner to the Public

Section II A
Participation in Community Affairs

A NSA practitioner shall participate responsibly in the public affairs of his/her state and/or local community to improve law, administrative procedures and public policies pertaining to NSA, his profession, and healing.

Section II B
Advertising

A NSA practitioner may advertise. All advertising shall be accurate, truthful, and in good taste. Advertisements shall not be misleading or deceptive, and shall accurately represent the practitioner’s professional status and area of special competence.

Advertising shall not appeal primarily to an individual’s anxiety, create unjustified expectations nor claim definite results.

A NSA practitioner shall conform to all applicable state laws, regula­tions and judicial decisions governing professional advertising.

Section III
Release Of Confidential Practice Member Records

The practitioner shall, promptly comply with a practice member’s written authorization to provide records, or copies of records, to any individual designated by the practice member.

Section III A
Release of Records

All information contained in the clinical, health and personal record is confidential. A properly completed and signed authorization is required for the release of any practice member information, including but not restricted to release for or to:

• Another health care provider.

• Medical care evaluation.

•  Insurance purposes.

• Research and education according to conditions specified below

In keeping with the tenet of informed consent, a properly completed and signed authorization to release practice member information shall, as a minimum, include the following:

• Name of institution, office, or practitioner releasing the information.

• Name of the individual or institution to receive the information.

• Practice member’s full name, address and date of birth.

• Purpose or need for information.

•  Extent or nature of information to be released, with inclusive dates of clinical attention (An authorization specifying “any and all information...” shall not be honored).

• Date consent is signed (date of signature must be later than the date of information to be released), and signature of practice member or legal representative. In the case of treatment given a minor without parental knowledge, the institution shall refrain from releasing the portion of the record relevant to this episode of care when responding to a request for information for which the signed authorization is that of the parent or guardian. An authorization by the minor shall be required in this instance.

Information released to authorized individuals or agencies shall be strictly limited to information required to fulfill the purpose stated on the written authorization. An authorization requesting “any and all information...” or other such broadly inclusive statements shall not be honored. Release of information not essential to the stated purpose of the request is specifically prohibited.

The signed authorization shall be retained in the records with notation of the specific information released, date of release and the signature of the individual who released the information.

Records shall be avail­able for use within the facility for direct practice member care by all authorized personnel as specified by the chief executive officer.

Direct access to practice member records for routine administrative functions, including billing, shall not be permitted, except where the employees are instructed in policies on confidentiality.

Clinical records shall be made available for research to individ­uals who have obtained approval for their research projects from an institutional review board or appropriate clinical staff committee, administrator or other designated authority. Research projects involving the use of clinical records shall be conducted according to institutional policies on the use of clinical records for research. Any research project involving contact with the practice member by the researcher must have written permission of the practice member’s attending clinician.

The names, addresses, date of admission or discharge of practice members shall not be released to the news media or commercial organization without the express written consent of the practice member or authorized agent.

Requests for practice member information received by telephone will require proper identification and verifica­tion to assure the requesting party is entitled to receive such information. A record of the request and information released shall be kept.

A practice member shall have access to his/her records within any legal constraints, such as those governing minors. Any practice member or his representative shall have access to his own health record for review, upon written request with reasonable notice. A copy of the requested information will be provided after completion of a written request by the practice member and payment of a reasonable fee. The practitioner is not required to permit the practice member access to his/her health record if the provider reasonably concludes that knowledge of the information would be injurious to the health of the practice member, or knowledge that the clinical information could reasonably be expected to cause danger to the life or safety of any person. 

If the practitioner denies a practice member’s request to see or copy, in whole or in part, his/her health record based on the above, the practitioner shall provide a summary of the record to the practice member.

If the practitioner chooses to prepare a summary of the record rather than allow access to the entire record, the summary shall be available in a time agreed upon by the practice member and practitioner (generally within 30 days). The summary of the record shall include only information appearing in the original record. 

The provider must permit inspection by, or provide copies of, the chiropractic and health records to another health care practitioner who is licensed to treat the same condition as the provider, and who has been so designated, in writing, by the practice member. The provider shall inform the practice member of the refusal to permit him or her to inspect or obtain copies of the requested records, and inform the practice member of the right to require the provider to permit inspection by, or provide copies to, another health care practi­tioner who is licensed to treat the same condition as the initial provider and who has been so designated, in writing, by the practice member. In either event, the provider shall make a written record, to be included with the health records requested, noting the date of the request and explaining the reason for refusing inspection, or provide copies thereof, including a description of the specific adverse or detrimental consequences to the practice member the provider anticipates would occur if inspection or copying was permitted.

Section III B
Correction of Records

In the event the practice member wishes to correct data in the records, the correction shall be entered as an amendment, without change to the original entry, and shall be clearly identified as an additional document appended to the original health record at the direction of the practice member. This document shall be regarded as an integral part of the professional record. Upon request of the practice member, the provider shall furnish copies of the amendment to any person to whom the disputed information has been properly released. 

When clinical information is requested subsequent to the amendment, the information sent shall include the amendment.

The provider will make these policies known to practice members upon request.

Following authorized release of practice member information, the signed authorization shall be retained in the records with notation of the specific information released, the date of release, and the signature of the individual who released the information.

SECTION IV
Duties, Obligations and, Responsibilities of the Practitioner to the Profession

Section IV A
Professional Integrity

A NSA practitioner shall maintain the integrity, competency and high standards of his profession by continuously striving to improve his/her skills and competency; keeping abreast of current developments contained in the health, healing and scientific literature, and participating in appropriate educational programs relevant to the Network Spinal Analysis™, health and wellness outcomes, medical sociology, physiology, anatomy, and other related fields.

A NSA practitioner shall avoid the appearance of professional impropriety and recognize that his/her behavior may have an impact on the professional’s ability to serve the public. 

He/she shall endeavor to promote the public’s confidence in NSA and his/her specific profession.

A NSA practitioner shall avoid impugning the reputation of his/her colleagues as well as other professionals.

A NSA practitioner shall promote and maintain cordial relationships with other members of his/her profession other NSA practitioners, and other professions for the exchange of information advantageous to the public’s health, spinal and neural integrity, advancing emerging properties for healing, and a greater understanding and experience of well–being. 

Section IV B
Contractual Obligations

A NSA practitioner shall, when aligning himself/herself in practice with other practitioners, insist they maintain the standards in this Code of Professional Ethics and the provisions of the respective state’s Act for the profession he/she practices. A NSA practitioner shall enter into a contract with an organization only if it allows him/her to maintain his/her professional, personal, and professional integrity.

The NSA practitioner shall strive to publish in scientific journals, and shall support any relevant journals or publications and research.

Section IV C
Research and Study

A NSA practitioner shall communicate to his/her affiliated institution of learning, through recognized channels, the results of any research, so those organizations may establish an opinion of the merit of the research.

A NSA practitioner shall maintain the highest standards of accuracy in the dissemination of information and ideas.

A NSA practitioner shall recognize a responsibility to the profession and the public. When interpreting scientific knowledge for the public, the practitioner shall do so in a humane, vitalistic, holistic and honoring fashion.