The aim of the MHI Code of Practice is to set out the basic, minimum standards, which META-Health International (MHI) expects its certified META-Health Professionals to maintain.
- Introduction
- Consent
- Relationship with the client
- Practitioner Awareness
- Administration and Publicity
- Guidance for working with other Healthcare Professionals
1. Introduction
1.1. META-Health Professionals are using the Organ-Stress-Trigger-Emotion-Belief Connection, major Point and Phases of Healing, Lifestyle Modifications and other skills and techniques to help promote awareness and enhance self-healing responses and well-being in their clients.
1.2. Compliance with this Code of Practice is mandatory for all certified META-Health Professionals and Trainers. It is the responsibility of the Practitioner to ensure that he / she is fully acquainted with the details of theses requirements.
1.3. Breaches of this Code and formal complaints directed at any META-Health Professional at any level will be handled in accordance with MHI’s Disciplinary Procedure.
1.4. META-Health Professionals do not diagnose any illness. They use their deep understanding of the Organ-Stress Trigger-Emotion-Belief Connection and major Point and Phases of Healing to create awareness and help clients in the process of auto-regulation of bodymind. Each member is responsible for adhering and following legal guidelines and standards as they apply for each profession in their country.
1.5. META-Health is rooted in the principles of Integrative Medicine and META-Health Practitioners are to use an integrative model of analysis and coaching and may use a variety of treatment methods including traditional medicine, complementary or alternative medicine treatments according to their level of competence.
2. Consent
2.1. Clients’ informed consent is essential prior to commencement of any treatment. It is recommended that META-Health Practitioners obtain a consent form signed by the client at the initial consultation.
2.2. It is essential to explain the nature of any analysis or therapy you propose and its likely effects. Consent must be given voluntarily. Consent is not a one-off event and should be sought as part of a process.
2.3. The law recognises that some clients, because of their age, illness or mental capacity cannot give consent to treatment. In such cases you must obtain clear written consent from someone authorized to give consent of behalf of the client.
2.4. If you decide you must discontinue treating a client, you must do all you can to help them find an alternative source of care.
3. Relationship with the Client
3.1. META-Health Practitioners shall have respect for the religious, political and social situation, sexual orientation and views of any individual irrespective of age, race, colour, creed or gender, and must never seek to impose their own beliefs on a client.
3.2. META-Health Practitioners shall at all times conduct themselves in a honourable and courteous manner and with due diligence in their relations with their clients and the public. Proper moral conduct must always be paramount in the members’ relations with clients; they must behave with respect, courtesy, dignity, discretion and tact. Their attitude must be professional, competent, empathetic, realistic and supportive, thus encouraging uplift in the client’s outlook and belief in a progression towards good health practices.
3.3. The relationship between the practitioner and client is that of a professional with a client. The client places trust in a practitioner’s skill, care and integrity, and it is the practitioner’s duty to act with due diligence at all times and not to abuse this trust in any way.
3.4. Members must never claim to “diagnose” or “cure”, (unless they are legally allowed to do so). The possible benefits may be described but recovery must never be guaranteed.
3.5. When a client consults a META-Health Practitioner for the first time about a particular problem, the client should be asked what medical advice they have received and the response entered in the client’s records. Since it is legal to refuse medical treatment, no client can be forced to consult a doctor. The advice must be recorded in the client’s records for the META-Health Practitioner’s own protection. It is recommended to consult and work closely with the general practitioner.
3.6. Before treatment, members must explain fully either in writing or verbally the procedures involved in the treatment including such matters as the consultation process, the length of visits, fees etc.
3.7. META-Health Practitioners and all those who work with them must not disclose or allow to be disclosed, any information about a client (including the fact of their attendance) to any third party, including members of the client’s family, without the client’s consent unless it is by due process of the law or for immediate protection of or avoidance of identifiable real risk to a third party, in which case the Practitioner is advised to obtain legal advice.
3.8. No third party, including assistants and members of the client’s family, may be present during the course of the consultation with an adult client without the client’s express consent. However, META-Health Practitioners working with children, severely disturbed clients or those of the opposite sex should give due consideration to the need to safeguard themselves by having a third party present in the treatment room or in the treatment premises.
3.9. At present, neither META-Health nor any other complementary or alternative therapy is approved as “medical aid” under most current laws. In most countries it is a criminal offence for a parent or guardian not to seek medical aid for a child under the age of 18 years or whatever age applies by law in each country. Therefore the member should secure a signed and dated statement from a parent or guardian who refuses to seek medical aid as defined in law.
4. Practitioner Awareness
4.1. META-Health Practitioners must ensure that their health and personal hygiene do not jeopardise the welfare or health and safety of their clients.
4.2. A META-Health Practitioners must not treat a client whose requirement exceeds the member’s capacity, training and competence. Where appropriate the member must seek referral to a more appropriately qualified person.
4.3. META-Health Practitioners must not presume specialist knowledge outside their own area of expertise unless their training and qualifications entitle them to do so, and they have appropriate insurance cover.
4.4. It is the responsibility of the practising META-Health Professional to comply with local and national legislation with regard to the therapy undertaken. They should be fully aware of current laws that affect their practice.
4.5. Notifiable Diseases: It is a statutory requirement that certain infectious diseases are reported to the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in the district in which the client is living when the disease is diagnosed. META-Health Practitioners are required to follow local policies.
5. Administration and Publicity
5.1. META-Health Practitioners must not use titles or descriptions to give the impression of medical or other qualifications unless they possess them. They must make it clear to their clients that they are not doctors, psychotherapist, etc. and do not purport to have their skills or knowledge.
5.2. Advertising including website pages must be dignified in tone and shall not contain statements or claims of curing any disease. It should be confined to drawing attention to META-Health, the qualifications of the member, and the offer of a general service together with the necessary details.
5.3. All practising and certified META-Health Practitioners must ensure that their membership is up-to-date and that their profile appears in the MHI accredited practitioner list. This confirms that they are fully qualified to practice and agree to abide by the Code of Practice and Complaints and Disciplinary Procedures.
5.4. META-Health Practitioners certificate and updated status of accreditation should be displayed in their place of practice.
5.5. META-Health Practitioners must ensure they keep comprehensive records as required by local law. This is especially important for the defence of any negligence actions as well as for efficient and responsible practice. Three criteria need to be met to validate consent:
- the consent must be voluntary,
- the client needs to have received enough information to make a decision,
- the client is competent, i.e. able, to give consent.
5.6. In order to be able to determine that any given treatment administered is appropriate and reasonable, it is the responsibility of the META-Health Practitioners to ensure that their client notes/records are sufficiently thorough and accurate so that they can demonstrate that the treatment was appropriate and was carried out safely and competently.
5.7. All META-Health Practitioners should provide clients with the contact details of the MHI office if they wish to make a complaint.
6. Guidance for Working with Other Healthcare Professionals
6.1. META-Health Practitioners should seek a good working relationship and work in a co-operative manner with other professionals, and recognise and respect their particular contribution within the healthcare team, irrespective of whether they perform from an allopathic, alternative or complementary base.
6.2. Members of other healthcare professions remain subject to the general ethical codes and disciplinary procedures of their respective professions.
6.3. META-Health Practitioners must not countermand instructions or prescriptions given by a doctor. They may provide and explain treatment options and allow each client to make an informed decision.
6.5. META-Health Practitioners must not advise a particular course of treatment such as to undergo an operation or to take specific drugs. It must be left to the client to make her/his own decisions in the light of medical advice.
6.6. META-Health Practitioners must never give a medical diagnosis to a client in any circumstances, as this is the responsibility of the registered medical practitioner. However, it may be appropriate to encourage the client to visit their doctor / GP if the member has any concerns, and the member should clearly record this action.
By being a META-Health Professional certified and accredited by MHI, you hereby confirm that you have read the Code od Practice and comply and will act accordingly.