YES! Update and add to “Legal” AAMET Code of Ethics

To download the PDF from the AAMET website, please go to http://www.AAMET.org.

AAMET Code of Conduct and Ethics Effective From: 1st April 2010
INTRODUCING THE AAMET
The AAMET is a large international non-profit making organisation supporting Energy Therapy.
The AAMET is comprised of individuals with an interest in Energy Psychology and also Energy Psychology
Practitioners and Trainers. The AAMET is open to any person who is able to satisfy the criteria for ongoing
registration as determined from time to time by the AAMET.
Currently the AAMET has 6 types of members:
 AAMET registered Friends
That is those individuals who are interested in Meridian Energy techniques and who have registered with
the AAMET as friends.
 AAMET registered Students
That is those individuals who are currently studying to become Meridian Energy practitioners but have not
yet completed their studies and are registered with the AAMET as Meridian Energy Students.
 AAMET registered Meridian Energy Practitioners (at all levels)
That is those individuals who have fulfilled the AAMET criteria for practitioner registration and who have
been registered with the AAMET as Meridian Energy Practitioners at any level.
 AAMET registered trainers
That is those individuals who have fulfilled the AAMET criteria for trainer registration and have been
registered with the AAMET as Energy Therapy trainers.
 AAMET registered trainers of trainers
That is those individuals who have fulfilled the AAMET criteria for trainer of trainer registration and have
been registered with the AAMET as Trainers of Energy Therapy Trainers.
 AAMET Fellows
That is those individuals who have made a significant contribution to Energy Therapy and/or the AAMET
and have been officially recognised as AAMET Fellows.
SCOPE OF THIS CODE:
The scope of this Code is to govern the relationship between:
o AAMET members and the AAMET;
o AAMET registered Meridian Energy practitioners and clients;
o AAMET registered Meridian Energy practitioners and other healthcare professionals;
o AAMET registered Meridian Energy practitioners, trainers, trainers of trainers and the AAMET;
o AAMET registered Meridian Energy trainers, trainers of trainers and their students.
Consequently, this Code relates solely to the AAMET registered members, registered students, registered
practitioners (at all levels), registered trainers and registered trainers of trainers.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
The following terms used throughout this document are defined here for the purposes of this document as
follows:
1. “Practitioner” shall mean: AAMET registered Meridian Energy practitioners, trainers and trainers of trainers.
2. “Client” shall mean: client(s) of AAMET registered practitioners and students of registered AAMET trainers
and trainers of trainers.
3. “Treatment” shall mean: any application of Meridian Energy techniques by a practitioner to a client.
NB: This code of conduct and ethics applies equally to the relationship between a practitioner and paying clients,
and also between a practitioner and non-paying clients.
DELIVERY OF SERVICE
A. Practitioners: All practitioners shall undertake to:
A1. Provide service to clients solely in those areas in which they are competent to do so and for which they
carry relevant professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
“Competency” means adequate training, skills and experience but need not exclude treating a client for a
condition which the practitioner has not treated before, provided that due diligence and professionalism is
observed.
A2. Act in a non-biased, non-prejudicial manner towards all clients, providing those clients with an identical
quality of service and treatment irrespective of the many differences which are to be found between clients,
including but not restricted to: race, gender, sexual orientation, disability etc.
A3. Disclose full details of all relevant memberships, training, experience, qualifications and appropriate
avenues of complaint to clients upon request and only use those qualifications and memberships to which
they have proof of entitlement.
A4. Explain fully to clients in advance of any treatment: the fee levels, precise terms of payment and any
charges which might be imposed for non-attendance or cancelled appointments and wherever relevant,
confidentiality issues.
“In advance of any treatment” means that not only should terms and conditions be set out in advance, but
that they should be further clarified by the practitioner at the initial consultation when additional information
about the client’s needs is obtained. If for therapeutic reasons, the practitioner wishes to modify treatment
(e.g. to extend the treatment plan) then any effect this has on terms, conditions and pricing must be clearly
explained to the client.
A5. Present all services and products in an unambiguous manner (to include any limitations and realistic
outcomes of treatment) and ensure that the client retains complete control over the decision to purchase
such services or products. N.B. Guarantees of either a cure or a successful resolution of the problem/s
presented shall not be offered.
A6. Have the necessary qualifications and experience as required by the laws and customs of the country or
countries in which they practice or teach.
A7. Always act within the framework of the laws and customs currently in force within the practitioners own
country or region.
B. EFT Trainers and EFT Trainers of Trainers:
All AAMET registered EFT Trainers and Trainers of Trainers shall undertake to:
B1. Fully Comply with the requirements of the following documents:
B1.a AAMET Guidelines for EFT Trainers
B1.b AAMET EFT Trainer and ‘Trainer of Trainer’ Certification
B1.c AAMET Guidelines for CPD and Mentoring
B2. Explain fully to students in advance of any training: the fee levels, precise terms of payment, any charges
which might be imposed for non-attendance or cancellation of any course or part of a course. Such
explanation must also include statements quantifying the trainer’s liability in the event of the trainer
cancelling a course or part of a course.
CLIENT WELFARE
C. All practitioners shall undertake to:
C1. Work in ways that will promote client autonomy and well-being and that maintain respect and dignity for the
client.
C2. Remain aware of their own limitations and wherever appropriate, be prepared to refer a client to another
practitioner (regardless of discipline) who might be expected to offer suitable treatment.
N.B. Practitioners should give full consideration to the efficacy of treatment, including the manner in which
their rapport with the client may affect such efficacy. The practitioner has the right to refuse or terminate
any treatment if it is a reasonable belief that it will not be, or continue to be, efficacious. In refusing or
terminating treatment due care must be given to fully explaining the rationale for refusal or termination to
the client.
C3. Ensure that wherever a client is seeking assistance for the relief of symptoms that are prolonged,
potentially life threatening in nature or are generally a cause for concern, that unless already having done
so, the client be advised to contact a registered medical practitioner.
N.B. If there is any doubt in the practitioners mind about whether any set of symptoms are a cause for
concern or not, they should always advise the client to see their registered medical practitioner.
N.B. It is in the interest of both the practitioner and the client that whenever a client is advised to seek
medical help, this advice is recorded on the client notes.
C4. Advise clients wherever necessary, that their primary care-givers are their registered medical practitioner.
C5. Never attempt to give a medical diagnosis of symptoms or to give advice about treatments or medications
unless they have undergone relevant medical training.
C6. Confirm that they will never knowingly offer advice to a client which either conflicts with or is contrary to
that given by the client’s registered medical advisor/s.
N.B. If the practitioner has doubts or concerns with regard to a client’s prescribed medication, they should,
always with their client’s permission, contact the medical advisor personally.
C7. Use due care and diligence and whatever techniques the practitioner is qualified to use to avoid creating
undue emotional or physical distress for the client.
C8. Ensure that their workplace and all facilities offered to both clients and their companions will be in every
respect suitable and appropriate for the service provided. These shall include any consulting room or
training room used for the purpose of consultation and/or conducting therapy and/or training with any client,
along with any reception or waiting areas associated with such rooms.
C9. Take all reasonable care to ensure the safety of the client and any person who may be accompanying
them.
C10. Refrain from using their position of trust or confidence to:
C10.a Cross the commonly understood professional boundaries appropriate to the practitioner/client
relationship or exploit the client emotionally, sexually, financially, or in any other way whatsoever.
Should either a sexual relationship, or a financial relationship other than for the payment of
relevant products or services, or other inappropriate relationship develop between either
practitioner and client or members of their respective immediate families, the practitioner must
immediately cease to accept fees, terminate treatment consistent with Clause C12 below and
refer the client to another suitable practitioner at the very earliest opportunity.
N.B. Clarification on dilemmas experienced by practitioners in respect of the foregoing should be
sought from the AAMET ethics committee at the earliest opportunity.
C10.b Touch the client in any way that may be open to misinterpretation.
N.B. Before employing any technique that requires the practitioner to touch the client in any way a
full explanation should be given to the client as to what the process involves and the clients
permission received.
C11. Not accept any inappropriate gifts, gratuities or favours from a client.
C12. Never protract treatment unnecessarily and to terminate treatment at the earliest moment consistent with
the good care of the client.
C13. Maintain strict confidentiality within the client/practitioner relationship, always provided that:
C13.a Such confidentiality is not inconsistent with the practitioner’s own safety
C13.b Such confidentiality is not inconsistent with the safety of the client, the client’s family members or
other members of the public
C13.c Such confidentiality is not in contravention of any legal action (i.e. criminal, coroner or civil court
cases where a court order is made demanding disclosure) or legal requirement (e.g. Children’s
Acts etc.)
C13.d The limits of such confidentiality is explained fully to the client.
N.B. Where the practitioner is working as part of a larger team, for example within an institution or
through a multidisciplinary or similar clinical approach, or where the client has been referred by a
medical advisor or agency with conditions placed on the referral as to shared disclosure by the
practitioner to the advisor or agency, then provided that it is clear that the client consents,
confidential information may be shared by the practitioner with the team or referring advisor or
agency.
C14. Ensure that client notes and records be kept secure and confidential and that the use of both manual and
computer records remains within the terms of the Data Protection Act.
N.B. Manual records should always be locked away when not in use and those held on computer should
be password coded. The practitioner should provide, in advance, arrangements for the secure disposal of
all client records in case of their permanent incapacity or death.
C15. Recognise that the maintenance of case note should include personal details, history, diagnosis and/or
identification of problem areas; programme of sessions as agreed between practitioner and client (if any),
session progress notes and a copy of any contract.
C16. Obtain written permission from the client (or if appropriate the client’s parent/s or legal guardian/s) before
either recording client sessions, discussing undisguised cases with any person whatsoever, or publishing
cases (whether disguised or not) via any medium.
“Recording” in this context means any method other than the usual taking of written case notes.
“Undisguised” in this context means cases in which material has not been sufficiently altered in order to
offer reasonable anonymity to all relevant parties. With particular reference to the use of CCTV
equipment, all clients must be fully informed when such equipment is in operation and when the client
session is being recorded, written permission must be obtained prior to the commencement of any client
session. Where a CCTV system is used that is not being recorded, then the client must be made fully
aware that the system is in operation and who is viewing the monitor.
C17. Advise the client that disguised case studies may sometimes be utilised for the purposes of either their
own supervision or the supervision and/or training of other practitioners and refrain from using such
material should the respective client indicate that it should not be used for these purposes.
D: GENERAL CONDUCT
All practitioners shall undertake to:
D1. Conduct themselves at all times in accord with their professional status and in such a way as neither
undermines public confidence in the process or profession of Meridian Energy Techniques nor brings the
AAMET into disrepute.
D2. Protect the public and the profession from unethical, unsafe or bad practice or behaviour. When offering
criticisms or complaints about colleagues, practitioners should utilise appropriate channels such as the
complaints procedures of the AAMET, or, where appropriate, Trading Standards or other relevant bodies.
Practitioners offering criticisms outside of these channels have the duty to demonstrate that it is reasonable
to do so. Practitioners must use due care and diligence when offering criticisms and complaints to ensure
that they are justified and can be substantiated.
D3. Respect the status of all other medical/healthcare professionals and the boundaries of their professional
remit.
E: RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AAMET
All practitioners shall undertake to:
E1. Notify the AAMET of any change in practice name, contact address, telephone number or email address, at
the earliest convenient moment.
E2. Inform the AAMET of any alteration in circumstance which would affect either their position or ability as
practitioners.
E3. Inform the AAMET of:
E3.a any complaint (of which they are aware) made against them
E3.b any disciplinary action taken against them by any professional body
E3.c All criminal offences of which they have either been convicted or warned excepting motoring
offences.
E4. Make available all relevant information requested as a result of investigation by the AAMET Ethics
Committee, without hindrance (whether implied or actual) or unreasonable delay, and comply fully with all
requirements inherent within any Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure to which they subscribe.
F: ADVERTISING, DISPLAY OF CREDENTIALS & USE OF SPECIFIC TITLES
All Practitioners shall undertake to:
F1. Ensure that all advertising, no matter in what form or medium it is placed, represents a truthful, honest and
accurate picture of themselves, their skill-base, qualifications and facilities and that any claims for the
successful outcome of treatments (in whatever format) shall be based upon verifiable, fully documented
evidence.
F2. Ensure that all advertising shall be accurate, truthful and that any claims made in advertising can be
substantiated on request.
F3. Display only valid qualifications and certificates issued in respect of relevant training courses and events or
certificates of registration, validation or accreditation as issued or awarded by relevant professional bodies.
F4. Make no claim that they hold specific qualifications unless such claim can be fully substantiated.
G: SUPERVISION & CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Practitioners are expected to maintain or improve their level of skills and professional competence in accordance
with the requirements laid down by the AAMET