Professional Conduct and Ethics - RAHPC
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  • The primary concern of the Health Practitioner is the health and wellbeing of patient and the community. The Health Practitioner shall avoid to provide services that may be hazardous to human health.

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Professional Conduct and Ethics

The Rwanda Allied Health Professions Council was established to regulate the Allied Health Professions in the Republic of Rwanda.  As part of its mandate to protect the public, the Code of Professional Conduct was developed to set the standards of conduct and behaviour expected of registered allied health practitioners.

This Code was developed based on a health professional's obligation to act in the best interest of patients and the public and ethical principles of:

1.    Beneficence, this refers to doing good to others;

2.    Non-maleficence, this refers to doing no harm to others;

3.    Respect for your patient's privacy and confidentiality;

4.    Respect for your patient's autonomy, this refers to their right to refuse or choose their treatment;

5.    Fair and just provision of health services; and

6.    Personal integrity

Allied health practitioners provide a wide range of services to the public in both the health and social care environment and have a duty to promote and protect the health and safety of the patients at all times.  The Code of conduct lays down a set of principles for the professional relationships, practice and conduct with respect to users of health professional services and amongst the various healthcare professions.

Persistent failure and disregard for these standards can compromise patient safety and well-being, and/or bring disrepute to the profession.  Breach of these standards can lead to a registered practitioner being requested to defend his course of actions, and face disciplinary proceedings for professional misconduct or failure to maintain competence.

Registered Practitioners are always expected to:

1.    Act in the best interest of your patient and the public;

2.    Respect your patients' privacy and maintain confidentiality of information;

3.    Respect your patients' choice and right to refuse or choose their treatment (autonomy), and obtain informed consent to give treatment;

4.    Communicate effectively with your patient, caregivers and other professionals;

5.    Ensure that any advertising you do or support is truthful, accurate and does not induce unnecessary demands for your services;

6.    Act within the limits of your knowledge, skill and experience, and if necessary, refer the matter to another professional;

7.    Limit your work or stop practising if your performance or judgement is affected by your health or other reasons;

8.    Keep accurate and adequate patient records;

9.    Engage in professional development and keep your professional skills and knowledge up-to-date;

10. Effectively supervise tasks you have asked others to complete and undertake supervisory duties you have been assigned professionally;

11. Maintain high standards of personal conduct and behaviour;

12. Abide by all laws and regulations governing your practice and the code of ethics of your profession and the Council.

 The Code of Conduct explains these principles and its intention in greater details.  Please note that the Code should be understood in its entirety and not in its parts.  However, it does not endeavour to cover all circumstances that registered practitioners will face.  When in doubt, consult the Office of the Registrar. 

Professionalism and Ethical Standards

The primary concern of the Health Practitioner is the health and wellbeing of patient and the community. The Health Practitioner shall avoid to provide services that may be hazardous to human health.

The following constitutes unprofessional conduct against which the Council may take disciplinary actions:

1. Unauthorised advertising

2. Over-servicing of patient

3. Criminal conviction

4. Improper relationships with patient

5. Improper conduct of practitioners

6. Operational procedure without patient's permission or consent

7. Disclosure of information in regard to patient without his / her permission

8. Incompetence in regard to provision of healthcare services

9. Excessive fees charged/overcharging

10. Insufficient care towards patients

11. Racial discrimination

12. Rude behaviour towards patients

13. Prescriptions to already addicted patients

14. Any other conduct contrary to standards of healthcare professionals.

 

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