Committee on Acupuncture: A Code of Ethics

This Code of Ethics reflects the mission of the Massachusetts Committee on Acupuncture. Here we express our professional aspirations, our ideals and our vision for the future of acupuncture in the world.

To learn about our legal standards, please refer to the COA’s laws, regulations and policies.

A Code of Ethics

It is our hope that every licensed acupuncturist will honor this code of ethics.

• I WILL PRACTICE COMPETENTLY and SAFELY, to the best of my abilities, within my scope of practice.
   
• I WILL RESPECT my patients. My primary objective will be to heal. If I cannot heal, I will do no harm.
   
• I WILL INFORM my patients thoroughly about their health and their treatment options. I will respect my patient’s decisions about their treatment, including the decision to terminate treatment.
   
• I WILL BE AWARE of my own implicit biases and will not discriminate in my practice of acupuncture.
   
• I WILL EDUCATE myself through lifelong learning and through supportive collaborations with my colleagues.
   
• I WILL ACT WITH INTEGRITY in all my professional activities as an acupuncturist. I will be fair and honest in my business dealings.
   
• I WILL MAINTAIN appropriate and professional boundaries with patients, colleagues and those I mentor.
   
• I WILL INTEGRATE traditional Chinese medicine with evidence-based practice, applying research findings into my patient care and clinical decision-making.
   
• I WILL COMMUNICATE and cooperate with other health care professionals to ensure high quality patient-centered care.
   
• I WILL SERVE my profession, my community and patients whenever I can.
   
• I WILL ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE the profession of acupuncture, because I believe in its many health care benefits.

Date published:	September 19, 2024
Last updated:	September 19, 2024