Practitioners | Code of Ethics

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• Code of Ethics (PDF 206KB)

The Board has had several requests for clarification or amendment of:
Clause 4 (c) "dietitians do not allow their professional standing to be used in direct endorsement of commercial products", which is of particular concern for dietitians working for nutritional companies, industry and in private practice with commercial interests.

This issue has been considered by the Code of Ethics committee and the Board. The Board has decided to deal with issues as they are raised.

It was agreed that it was not necessary to alter the wording of Clause 4, but the following guidelines should assist you to interpret clause 4 (c):

1. A dietitian working for a food company and / or in private practice.

You have been asked by your company to write an article promoting a breakfast cereal.
How do you do this?
Write an article on the benefits of eating breakfast and provide a simple meal plan using a variety of food examples. A company advertisement would be acceptable sitting alongside the article. There is no endorsement of a branded product by the dietitian.

2. A dietitian working for a company supplying nutritional support products.

a) With the responsibility for informing the Health Sector
Providing information on nutritional products to health professionals would be consistent  with the Code of Ethics where scientific evidence is provided to underpin the recommendations for the particular use of a specific product.

b) With responsibility for information / promotion of nutritional products to the public by  Direct marketing / advertising products with print, visual, sound and electronic media. This would be considered direct endorsement of a product and not comply with the Code of Ethics.

3) Dietitian working in private practice and giving advice to individual clients or to resthome management on the use of particular products.
As a dietitian you would not be breaking the Code of Ethics , as it does not prohibit you from discussing and / or advising on specific nutritional product and / or food as you will be advising your client on the basis of scientific evidence. Where ever possible a range of products should be suggested from a variety of companies.

If you have a workplace situation of concern that relates to the Code of Ethics, please contact the Board. The Boards intention is to build a set of illustrative cases, which will be of assistance to dietitians applying the Code of Ethics to their workplace. Your feedback about these issues is welcome.

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