1. ACADEMY/CDR
Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics

2. Ethics is the Struggle Between…
“Right & Wrong”
“Moral & Immoral”
“Just & Unjust”

3. Ethics: (eth/iks)
1. The study of standards of conduct and moral judgment.
2. The study of the general nature of morals and of the specific moral choices to be made by a person.
3. The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession.

4. Types of Codes
Aspirational
Educational
Regulatory

5. The Code consists of Five Categories
Fundamental Principles
Responsibilities to the Public
Responsibilities to Clients
Responsibilities to the Profession
Responsibilities to Colleagues and Other Professionals
Nineteen Principles

6. Functions of the Code of Ethics
The code is intended to:
Protect the profession and the credential
Influence public and private policy
Improve professional practice
Educate dietetics practitioners about ethical decision making
Meet the guidelines of the accrediting agency for the Commission on Dietetic Registration

7. Misconceptions about the Code of Ethics
The Code is not intended to:
Identify and reprimand all unqualified dietitians and dietetic technicians
Be a punitive force to take away credentials

8. Professional Enhancement
The Code of Ethics
Professional
Development
Portfolio
The Standards
of Professional
Practice
Lifelong
Learning and
Professional Enhancement

9. History of the Academy/CDR Code
1934 – 1st Report presented to members.
1982 – 1st Code adopted. Enforced 1985.
1987 – 2nd Code adopted. Enforced 1987.
1998 – 3rd revised Code adopted by HOD in fall.
1999 – Revised Code published January.
2007 – New Task Force formed to review and revise the 1999 Code.
2009 – Revised Code approved by HOD, BOD and CDR.

10. Accessing the Code
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, August , pages
Academy Web site –

11. Tools & Resources Ethics Committee Ethics Team at Headquarters
Ethics For Further Reading List
FNCE sessions
Ethics Opinions
Ethics in Action columns
Case Studies
Case Studies and Discussion Question for Ethics Video Series
Ethics Video Series

12. Academy Ethics Committee
Ethics Committee was established in 1982
Composed of three members who each serve 3 year terms
One appointed by the Academy President
One appointed by the Speaker, HOD
One appointed by chair of CDR
One new member is added each year

13. Access to the Ethics Committee
Any member or non-member can make a complaint.
Complaints are not anonymous but are confidential.
If a complaint is made, it is forwarded to the member for a response.
The Ethics Committee then reviews the complaint and discusses the response in executive session.

14. Ethics Case Management Procedure
The enforcement procedures are intended to permit a fair resolution of disputes on ethical practices in a manner that protects the rights of individuals while promoting understanding of ethical practice.
The Ethics Committee has the authority and the flexibility to determine the best way to resolve a dispute, including educational means where appropriate.

15. What happens next… Case may be dismissed
Further information may be requested
Person may be contacted with specific actions for educational intervention

16. What happens next…
Membership in the American Dietetic Association may be censured, placed on probation, suspended, or revoked
RDN or DTR credential or specialist credential may be suspended or revoked
Ethics Committee uses a defined policy and procedure handbook to guide its decisions.

17. Recent Complaints # Inquiries # Complaints Complaint Types 8 1
Personal dispute 15 5
Inappropriate advice (3); Practice without a license; Copyright violation 16 6
Inappropriate advice; Personal dispute; Poor business practice (4) 24 11
Poor business practice (5); Licensure violation (4); Lack of scientific support; Legal violation 18
Personal dispute; Lack of scientific support (2); Misuse of RDN, Poor business practice 17

18. Ethical Issue or Not ? Legal, regulatory, or ethical issue?
Employer policy issue?
Personal issue?
Business dispute?
Academy/CDR member issue?
If violation of the Code violation-cite principle violated

19. Utilization of Academy’s Legal Counsel
Attends all meetings of Ethics Committee
Reviews files and correspondence
Provides counsel as to legal implications of decisions, actions

20. Self Assessment - Ethics Case Studies -
Three ethics case studies will be presented.
Work in small groups to discuss each case study.
Choose a reporter to report the discussion.

21. Questions to Discuss for Each Case Study:
Is the situation described an ethical issue?
Is the situation described a business dispute?
What category and principle(s) of the Code of Ethics does it relate to and how/why?
What are the key issues?
How might you handle as a colleague?

22. Case Study #1: Practicing on the Edge of Science
A new RDN and has been employed by a naturopathic medical clinic to provide diet education and therapy to patients. One of the Naturopaths is requesting that she recommends a new diet regimen advocating the use of pomegranates to improve patient’s circulation and an herbal tea for controlling diabetes. In addition she is to promote the raw food diet to all patients.

23. Small Group Discussion
Is the situation described an ethical issue?
Is the situation described a business dispute?
What category and principle(s) of the Code of Ethics does it relate to and how/why?
What are the key issues?
How might you handle as a colleague?

24. Results of Discussions
What Was the Ethics Committee’s Reaction to the Case?
Key Discussion Points

25. Review Case Study #2: Falsifying Continuing Professional Education
An RDN has been attending CPEU programs for 4 years, but has not recorded the information for her 5 year portfolio. She has documentation and paperwork for many of the hours but is not sure she has documentation to satisfy the full 75 hour requirement. She finds information from two wellness programs she attended but does not have the dates presented, nor the number of credit units. Rationalizing that she did attend the presentations, and that CDR will not check, she picks dates within her 5 year PDP period and a number of units and records the information on the activity log.

26. Small Group Discussion
Is the situation described an ethical issue?
Is the situation described a business dispute?
What category and principle(s) of the Code of Ethics does it relate to and how/why?
What are the key issues?
How might you handle as a colleague?

27. Results of Discussions
What Was the Ethics Committee’s Reaction to the Case?
Key Discussion Points

28. Case Study #3: Social Media
An RDN is on facebook and comes across a posting from an intern that is currently working in a clinical setting. The intern includes information about a patient and what the physician had said to her at the facility without using any names.

29. Small Group Discussion
Is the situation described an ethical issue?
Is the situation described a business dispute?
What category and principle(s) of the Code of Ethics does it relate to and how/why?
What are the key issues?
How might you handle as a colleague?

30. Results of Discussions
What Was the Ethics Committee’s Reaction to the Case?
Key Discussion Points

31. Questions and Summation