Code of Ethics
The
significance of the Code is that both students and professionals in the
study and application of exercise physiology to health, fitness, exercise,
preventive and rehabilitative services can turn to it for guidance in professional
conduct. Adherence to the Code is expected, and is based on the belief
that exercise physiologists are self-regulated, critical thinkers who are
accountable and responsible for their high quality competence in the practice
and the delivery of exercise physiology concepts, ideas, and services.
1.
Exercise physiologists should accurately communicate and provide health
and fitness, educational, preventive, rehabilitative, and/or research services
equitably to all individuals regardless of social or economic status, age,
gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, diverse
values, attitudes, or opinions.
2.
Exercise physiologists should be responsible and accountable for individual
non-medical judgments and decisions about health and fitness, preventive,
rehabilitative, educational, and/or research services.
3.
Exercise physiologists should maintain high quality professional competence
through continued study of the latest laboratory techniques and research
in preventive and rehabilitative services.
4.
Exercise physiologists are expected to conduct health and fitness, preventive,
rehabilitative, educational, research, and other scholarly activities in
accordance with recognized legal, scientific, ethical, and professional
standards.
5.
Exercise physiologists should respect and protect the privacy, rights,
and dignity of all individuals by not disclosing health and fitness, rehabilitative,
and/or research information unless required by law or when confidentiality
jeopardizes the health and safety of others.
6.
Exercise physiologists are expected to call attention to unprofessional
health and fitness, preventive, rehabilitative, educational, and/or research
services that result from incompetent, unethical, or illegal professional
behavior.
7.
Exercise physiologists should contribute to the ongoing development and
integrity of the profession by being responsive to, mutually supportive,
and accurately communicating academic and other qualifications to colleagues
and associates in the health and fitness, preventive, rehabilitative, educational
and/or research services and programs.
8.
Exercise physiologists should participate in the profession's efforts to
establish high quality services by avoiding conflicts of interest and endorsement
of products in the health and fitness, preventive, and/or rehabilitative
services and programs.
9.
Exercise physiologists should participate in and encourage critical discourse
to reflect the collective knowledge and practice within the exercise physiology
profession to protect the public from misinformation, incompetence, and
unethical acts.
10.
Exercise physiologists should provide health and fitness, preventive, rehabilitative,
and/or educational interventions grounded in a theoretical framework supported
by research that enables a healthy lifestyle through choice.
Copyright
©1997-2002
American
Society of Exercise Physiologists.
All
Rights Reserved.
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