The Florida Society of Clinical Hypnosis (FSCH) has adopted this Code of Ethics to ensure the highest quality of patient care through the proper and effective use of clinical hypnosis by its members. By adopting this code, FSCH strives to establish guidelines and to conduct a continuing program to insure the ethical use of hypnosis for clinical and research purposes. All members of FSCH, as a condition of membership, subscribe to the Code of Ethics, which is adopted pursuant to Article XII of the Constitution as a Standing Rule and Article III, Section B (1) and Article XII of the Bylaws.
The FSCH Code of Ethics:
Members of the FSCH shall observe the professional and ethical standards of their respective clinical professions: medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, dentistry, psychology, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, or nursing. The restraints regarding alcohol or drug abuse, criminal acts, sexual acts with the patient/client, loss of license to practice, or any other act deemed unethical by that profession's code of ethics will be considered by the FSCH for possible censures.
A member of the FSCH shall not support the practice of hypnosis by a lay person. They shall not teach, lecture or demonstrate clinical knowledge of the use of hypnosis to any person or group of lay persons who practice hypnosis. Lectures informing the general public about hypnosis are not prohibited as long as such lectures do not include demonstrations or didactic material teaching clinical hypnosis skills.
A "lay person" is an individual who lacks clinical training in a therapeutic or scientific profession recognized by the FSCH, and would not be eligible for a license to practice such a profession in the state of employment.
"Clinical" means the ability, designated by a recognized licensing body, to diagnose, prescribe, and carry out treatment for a medical, dental, psychological, or psychosocial disorder.
"The general public" means groups in the community who may be interested in availing themselves of the services of state-licensed health professionals who utilize hypnosis as a tool in their clinical practice.
Members of the FSCH shall only use hypnosis within their respective areas of professional competence and training.
The primary concern of each member of the FSCH, shall be the clinical well-being of the patient or client. To this end, each member of the FSCH shall have meaningful professional contact with each patient or client.
In the advertising of services or the dissemination of other information, members shall not overstate their professional credentials or make statements or claims which cannot be substantiated by relevant scientific evidence.
No member of the FSCH shall use hypnosis for entertainment purposes.
It is recommended that each member of the FSCH prepare and distribute to patients or clients a statement of office policies regarding appointments, fees, payment terms, the existence of professional ethical standards, and any other relevant information.It is also recommended that FSCH members prepare a Patient/Client information statement that gives information about the degree, license, training in his/her specialty and in hypnosis, and other credentials.
Enforcement
Any person, whether or not a member of the FSCH, may initiate a charge of ethical violation against a member of the FSCH. Any charge must be submitted in writing to the President of the FSCH, must have the time and place and detailed information of the alleged violation, and must be signed by the complainant.
After the President has reviewed the complaint, he/she will appoint and convene a special Ethics Review Committee to examine the charges against the member. The member shall be informed in writing of the charges, and such member's response to the charges will be solicited.
If, upon receiving the response of the member, the Ethics Review Committee determines that further inquiry is warranted, the Ethics Committee shall set a time and place for a hearing and shall notify the member and complainant, by certified mail, of the time and place.
If it is determined, after the hearing, that specific sanctions should be applied to the member, the Ethics Committee Chairperson will request the President to call a special meeting of the Executive Committee for final review and recommendations.
The member will then be notified in writing, by registered mail, of the decision of the Executive Committee. If the sanctions require some specific change in the practice or teaching procedures of the member, or other correctable practice, the member will be so informed. When the member has presented acceptable proof of compliance, such information will be quickly reviewed by the Ethics Committee and recommendation will be made to the Executive Committee to remove the sanctions.
If the sanctions were from a professional body or legislative body, when such sanctions have been removed and the member has been reinstated, the member can submit such information to the President of the FSCH for review and request of removal of sanctions from the FSCH.
As part of the membership application, a copy of this Code of Ethics shall be provided to the applicant with a statement on the application to be signed by the applicant, indicating that it has been read and agreed to. This signed statement must be returned to the FSCH office before the membership application will be processed.