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Apendix 37

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The following includes the Professional Practices Committee's Statement of Purpose, and the Procedures for Handling Complaints and Disputes. Disputes.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Professional Practices Committee shall inform the membership regarding ITAA guidelines for professional practices, receive complaints from all members, act to resolve problems between members, and report its actions to the Board of Trustees.

The distinction between the Professional Practices Committee and the Ethics Committee is largely one of process rather than content. When there is a flagrant violation of one of the sections of the ITAA Statement of Ethics, such as having sex with one's patient, then the issue is clearly an ethical one, and should not come before the Professional Practices Committee, but should go directly to the Ethics Committee for action.

When, however, there is a complaint or question concerning a more general aspect of professional practice, such as false advertising, misuse of the logo, or perceived mistreatment on the part of another member, then the issue should come before the Professional Practices Committee. Such complaints are assumed to be the result of an oversight or lack of information on the part of the offending party. The individual(s) concerned is (are) contacted and asked to take action to correct the situation. If the person(s) refuses, then it becomes clear that the offending action(s) are intentional and it becomes grounds for lodging an ethical charge. The charge is then referred to the Ethics Committee for action.

When there is not a clear violation, but rather a dispute between members, it should be handled by the Professional Practices Committee acting as a mediator. The Professional Practices Committee thus serves as:

1. A clearing house for disseminating information to the membership on guidelines for advertising, use of logo,. and fair treatment of other members;.
2. A source of mediation and resolution of complaints and disputes arising between members; and
3. A preliminary body to the Ethics Committee in dealing with "grey" areas.

PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING COMPLAINTS AND DISPUTES

1. The concerned individual writes or calls the regional representative to determine if his/her concern constitutes a matter to be handled by this committee.
2. When a grievance is indicated, the representative asks the individual if he/she wishes to handle the matter him/herself.
3. If assistance is requested, the regional representative investigates by obtaining information from both parties.
4. After obtaining evidence of a grievance, the representative requests that the offending person cease the behavior constituting the grievance.
5. If the grievance is a dispute between members, the representative invites both parties to meet with him/her to resolve the differences.
6. If the matter is resolved, the representative shares the action at the next committee meeting.
7. If the grievance is not resolved at the local level, then the representative brings the matter before the committee or, in the case of a dispute, invites the parties to appear before the committee to resolve the differences.
8. The committee follows the same procedures as above in seeking to resolve the grievances.
9. If the offending party or parties are not willing to cease the offending behavior, the matter is referred to the Ethics Committee.
10. The Committee reports its actions to the Board of Trustees.

Revised January 1989