1. Provide professional services with objectivity and with respect for the unique needs and values of individuals.
2. Avoid discrimination against other individuals on the basis of race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and national origin.
3. Fulfil professional commitments in good faith.
4. Conduct herself/himself with honesty, integrity and fairness.
5. Remain free of conflict of interest while fulfilling the objectives and maintaining the integrity of the Lactation Consultant profession.
6. Maintain confidentiality.
7. Base her/his practice on scientific principles, and on current research and information.
8. Take responsibility and accept accountability for personal competence in practice.
9. Recognise, and exercise professional judgment within, the limits of her/his qualifications. This principle includes seeking counsel and making referrals to appropriate providers.
10. Inform the public and colleagues of his/her services by using factual information. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant shall not advertise in a false or misleading manner.
11. Provide sufficient information to enable clients to make informed decisions.
12. Provide information about appropriate products in a manner that is neither false nor misleading.
13. Permit use of her/his name for the purpose of certifying that Lactation Consultant services have been rendered only if she/he provided those services.
14. Present professional qualifications and credentials accurately, using “IBCLC” only when certification is current and authorised by the IBLCE, and complying with all requirements when seeking initial or continued certification from the IBLCE. The Lactation Consultant is also subject to disciplinary action for aiding another person in violating any IBLCE requirements or aiding another person in representing herself/himself as an IBCLC when she/he is not.
15. Report to an appropriate person or authority when it appears that the health or safety of colleagues is at risk, as such circumstances may compromise standards of practice and care.
16. Refuse any gift, favour or hospitality from patients or clients currently in her/his care which might be interpreted as seeking to exert influence to obtain preferential consideration.
17. Disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest in relevant organisations providing goods or services. Ensure that professional judgment is not influenced by any commercial considerations.
18. Present substantiated information and interpret controversial information without personal bias, recognising that legitimate differences of opinion exist.
19. Withdraw voluntarily from professional practice if she/he has engaged in any substance abuse that could affect her/his practice; has been adjudged by a court to be mentally incompetent; or has an emotional or mental disability that affects her/his practice in a manner that could harm the client.
20. Obtain maternal consent to photograph, audio-tape or videotape a mother and/or her infant(s) for educational or professional purposes.
21. Submit to disciplinary action under the following circumstances: if convicted of a crime under the laws of the Practitioner’s country which is a felony or a misdemeanour, an essential element of which is dishonesty, and which is related to the practice of lactation consulting; if disciplined by a national, state, province or local government or authority, and at least one of the grounds for the discipline is the same or substantially equivalent to these principles; if committed an act of misfeasance or malfeasance which is directly related to the practice of the profession as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, a licensing board, or an agency of a governmental body; or if violated a Principle set forth in the Code of Ethics for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants which was in force at the time of the violation.
22. Accept the obligation to protect society and the profession by upholding the Code of Ethics for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants and by reporting alleged violations of the Code through the defined review process of the IBLCE.
23. Require and obtain consent to share clinical concerns and information with the Medical Practitioner or other primary Health Care Provider before initiating a consultation.
24. Adhere to those provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and subsequent WHA resolutions, which pertain to health workers.
25. Understand, recognise, respect, and acknowledge intellectual property rights, including but not limited to copyrights (which apply to written material, photographs, slides, illustrations, etc.), trademarks, service marks, and patents.
© IBLCE 2004 Implementation date: 1 December 2004 |
