Public Protection

The APP seeks to protect the public from unprofessional and unethical behaviour, and to make sure that registrants know the standards expected of them.

You must make sure that you behave with integrity and honesty and keep to high standards of personal and professional conduct at all times.

As a member your behaviour will potentially be under scrutiny at all times by members of the public and you should ensure you do nothing to bring your profession into disrepute. Appropriate professional boundaries must be maintained between practitioner and the patient, client or user. Development of a personal relationship must result in the cessation of the therapeutic relationship.

Inquiries into allegations against members

The APP has Professional Standards procedures and health panels, which will process complaints against members based on the expectations set out above in the codes of conduct, performance and ethics.

The professional standards officer will decide if there is a case to be investigated and, if there is, it will be dealt with in accordance with the complaints procedures. If the case against the member is well founded, the APP can take a range of appropriate measures against the member as necessary. The ultimate sanction would be removal from the APP register.

When an allegation is made against a member, The app will always take account of the standards set out in this Code when considering the allegation. While this document contains several examples of issues that may be considered, it is not an exhaustive list. An allegation against a member may be upheld even if the details of the issues that arise in their case are not specifically mentioned in this document. Every case referred to the APP will be considered individually.

Any advertising you undertake in relation to your professional activities must be accurate. Advertisements must not be misleading, false, unfair or exaggerated. You must not claim that your personal skills, equipment or facilities are better than anyone else’s.

If you are involved in advertising or promoting any other product or service, you must make sure that you abuse your knowledge, healthcare skills, qualifications and experience in an accurate and professional way... you must not make or support unjustifiable statements relating to particular products or services. Any potential financial rewards to you give to patients, clients and users.

Consumer protection act 1986 section 6 of the Act grants consumers the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standards and price of goods or services, as the case may be so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices. Section 2 (r) of the act, under the definition of the term “unfair trade practice”, covers the gamut of false advertisements including misrepresentations or false allurements. Redress against such unfair trade practices pertaining to false advertisements may be sought under the act.

Drug and magic remedies act, 1954 this act purports to regulate the advertisements of drugs in certain cases and to prohibit the advertising for certain purposes of remedies alleged to possess magic qualities and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) is self-regulatory voluntary organization of the advertising industry.