AMERICAN SOCIETY OF KETAMINE PHYSICIANS, PSYCHOTHERAPISTS & PRACTITIONERS
Ethical Code
I understand that membership in the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners (ASKP3) requires agreement with the following ethical principles and practices (the “Ethical Code”) and I agree in good faith to provide such healthcare services consistent with the Ethical Code.
Section 1: Commitment to Licensure. ASKP3 recognizes the importance that its Members maintain all necessary professional licenses. ASKP3 members (the “Members”) will maintain a healthcare license in good standing in the jurisdiction in which the Member provides healthcare services. Members will only provide services within the scope of practice consistent with their license, education, training, study, or professional experience.
Section 2: Commitment to Self-Education and Maintaining Expertise. ASKP3 recognizes the importance that its Members are committed to continued education. Members will continue to study, apply, and advance scientific knowledge, maintain a commitment to continuing education, make relevant information available to patients and collaborate with colleagues, and utilize or consult with other health professionals when appropriate. The Association further acknowledges that experiential training should only be implemented in an ethical manner that is in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, and consistent with the community standards in which the practitioner practices medicine or provides healthcare services.
Section 3: Commitment to Patient Education and Consent for Treatment. ASKP3 is committed to ensuring patients receive all relevant information related to their individual course of treatment, including, but not limited to, how such treatment will be administered to the patient. Members will obtain informed consent from each patient prior to providing treatment. When obtaining informed consent, Members will inform patients as early as is feasible in the therapeutic relationship about the nature and anticipated course of treatment, fees, involvement of third parties, and the limits of confidentiality and will provide an opportunity for the patient to ask questions and receive answers. When obtaining informed consent for ketamine treatment for which generally recognized techniques procedures and FDA approval have not been established, Members will inform their patients of the ongoing developing nature of the proposed treatment, the potential risks involved in the proposed treatment, alternative treatments that may be available, and the voluntary nature of their participation in the treatment process. Claims for efficacy should be provisional and supported by publicly available information. Patients should be informed of the risks of symptom relapse should they terminate a course of treatment prematurely.
Section 4: Commitment to Transparency in Treatment. ASKP3 understands and is committed to transparency in treatment. Members will disclose all formulations and ingredients to patients prior to beginning treatment to ensure the patient is fully informed and has consented to treatment. To the extent proprietary formulations or ingredients are undisclosed, a patient’s informed consent cannot be obtained. Members will document all formulations and ingredients in the patient’s medical records and will, if applicable, disclose such information to other health care providers at the patient’s request or for treatment purposes. Member’s will not withhold formulations and ingredients from patients (or other health care providers for treatment purposes) under a claim that such information is “proprietary” or confidential in nature.
Section 5: Commitment to the Patient-Provider Relationship. ASKP3 is committed to ensuring Members conduct themselves in a professional manner and maintain an appropriate provider- patient relationship. Members acknowledge that dual relationships pose special challenges for ethical practice. A dual relationship occurs when a Member is in both a professional and non- professional role at the same time with a patient. Dual relationships create a number of challenges, including, but not limited to, risks to patient confidentiality, risks of non-compliance with standard clinical procedures, and added complexities within the therapeutic relationship. Many state licensing boards have issued guidelines limiting such dual relationships and, to the extent applicable, each Member will comply with such limitations. Members should refer patients who would be considered as having a “dual relationship” to other providers whenever possible. If permitted under the Members’ license, and acceptable options are not available or feasible, Members providing services in dual relationships should ensure such patients are treated consistently with other patients by maintaining medical charts for the patients, taking additional steps to protect confidentiality and ensuring full compliance with standard clinical protocols. Consultation with a peer in such situations is advised.
Section 6: Commitment to Impartiality. ASKP3 recognized the need for Members to remain impartial and free from conflicts of interest in their professional roles. Members will refrain from entering into professional or clinical relationships that could pose a conflict of interest, including, but not limited to, taking on a professional role when personal, scientific, legal, financial, or other interests or relationships could reasonably be expected to impair the Members’ objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing their functions as Members or expose the person or organization with whom the professional relationship exists to harm or exploitation. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed in any publication or presentation, and when discussing services with prospective patients.
Section 7: Commitment to Safety and Compliance. ASKP3 is committed to ensuring safety and compliance are a top priority of its Members. Members will assure the safety, efficacy, and quality of their ketamine practice. Such quality assurance includes compliance with applicable laws including those related to dosing and monitoring as outlined in the ASKP3 Standards, assessing outcomes of therapy, and discontinuing therapy that is not beneficial to the patient.
Section 8: Commitment to Pricing Transparency. ASKP3 recognizes the importance of pricing transparency for patients when considering medical treatment. Members will disclose fees and payment procedures before engaging a patient in treatment. If Members anticipate potential limitations to services due to limitations in financing, Members will discuss this issue with the patient as early as is feasible. Patients should be informed of the risks of symptom relapse should they prematurely terminate treatment.
Section 9: Commitment to Integrity. ASKP3 recognizes the importance of integrity in the health care field and is committed to ensuring its Members maintain the utmost professional integrity. ASKP3 may, in its sole discretion, impose sanctions on its Members for violations of the Ethics Code, including, but not limited to, termination of ASKP3 membership without reimbursement of membership dues. Further, in compliance with its policies and procedures, ASKP3 may file complaints with licensing boards, enforcement agencies, or other regulatory bodies regarding actions the Association considers to be in violation of applicable law.
I agree to honor and uphold all of the Sections of the ASKP3 Ethics Code as contained herein, and as may be amended and adopted from time to time by the ASKP3 Board of Directors.