ABRET Code of Ethics

Principles

The American Board of Registration Of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists ("ABRET") is a nonprofit credentialing board for Electroencephalographic ("EEG")Technologists, Evoked Potential ("EP") Technologists, and Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring ("CNIM") Technologists, and seeks to encourage, establish and maintain the highest standards, traditions and principles of these technologies. ABRET Registered Technologists and Certified personnel should recognize their responsibilities, not only to their patients, but also to society, to other health care professionals and to themselves.

The following principles have been adopted by the Board of Directors in order to encourage personnel to aspire to the highest possible professional practice. An ABRET Registered technologist or Certified individual shall.

1. Do everything in his or her power to insure that the current Guidelines of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society are complied with in the department in which he or she works.
2. Preserve human dignity, respect patient's rights and support the well being of the patient under his or her care. The Registered or Certified person shall avoid discrimination against individuals on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, age and national origin.
3. Appreciate the importance of thoroughness in the performance of duty, compassion with patients and the significance of the tasks he or she perform.
4. Preserve the confidentiality of medical and personal information of a patient.
5. Strive to remain abreast of current technology and to study and apply scientific advances in his or her specialty.
6. Respect the law and to avoid dishonest, unethical or illegal practices.
7. Refuse primary responsibility for interpretation of testing or monitoring of Electroencephalograms, Evoked Potentials, or Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring for purposes of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Individuals who are licensed or otherwise authorized by practice standards to provide interpretation are excluded.
8. Protect the integrity of ABRET's certification examinations by not disclosing of divulging information learned from the examinations.

VIOLATIONS TO ABRET CODE OF ETHICS AND STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

PURPOSE OF STANDARDS:

ABRET has developed this Code of Ethics to articulate standards of conduct required for eligibility for certification and continued certification of EEG, EP, and CNIM technologists. Maintenance of board certification will require adherence to the ABRET Code of Ethics. Individuals who fail to meet these requirements may have their certification suspended or revoked. ABRET does not guarantee the job performance of any individual.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

An individual convicted of a felony or misdemeanor which may affect public health or safety shall be ineligible to apply for certification or recertification for a period of three (3) years from the exhaustion of appeals or final release from confinement (if any), or end of probation, whichever is later. In any event, certification nor recertification shall occur no earlier than three (3) years from the final decision of ineligibility or revocation. Convictions of this nature include but are not limited to felonies involving rape, sexual abuse of a patient or child, actual or threatened use of a weapon or violence, and prohibited sale, distribution or possession of a controlled substance. A candidate or certificant who is incarcerated, or for whom incarceration is pending, on the application deadline date shall be ineligible for certification or recertification until eligibility is reinstated.

VIOLATIONS:

1. Conviction in a court of law of a felony which may affect public health or safety.
2. Limitation or sanction, whether voluntary or involuntary, by a governmental regulatory board or professional organization relating to public health or the specialty of electroencephalographic and evoked potential technology
3. Documented evidence of accepting primary responsibility for interpretation of testing or monitoring
4. Fraud or deception in attempting to obtain registration or certification
5. Irregularity in connection with any ABRET exam, i.e., copying answers, falsifying information, etc
6. Failure to pay fees or provide information required by ABRET
7. Unauthorized use of ABRET credentials and materials including exams
8. Other violation of an ABRET standard, policy, or procedure as provided in the ABRET Candidates Handbook or other material provided to candidates or certificants, as amended from time to time in its sole discretion

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS:

Sanctions for violation of any ABRET standard set forth herein or any other ABRET standard, policy or procedure may include one or more of the following:

1. Exoneration or acquittal of all complaints;
2. A probation period;
3. An oral censure;
4. A written censure;
5. Revocation of registration or certification;
6. Suspension of registration or certification for a specific period of time;
7. Ineligible for registration or certification; or
8. Any combination of sanctions or other corrective action

This page last updated: February 20, 2008