Financial Integrity
This is a standard of behavior regarding rates where charging too little may make clients question your skills, while charging too much can seem arrogant.
Consistency of fee structures (CH 9)
This is a cashless exchange of goods or services between a practitioner and another party that the IRS still considers taxable income.
Barter (CH 9)
This is the primary ethical "Don't" regarding retailing: you should never sell products to clients that you have not taken this specific step with.
Thoroughly researching the product (CH 9)
This term refers to the written defamation of someone’s character or professional reputation.
Libel (CH 9)
This ethical breach involves a practitioner making false claims about their training, certifications, or professional standing.
Misrepresenting credentials (CH 9)
According to financial experts like Suze Orman, these personal factors—often shaped by early family history—must be controlled before a practitioner can master their finances.
Attitudes about money (CH 9)
To ethically manage and keep track of trades in a barter relationship, practitioners are encouraged to issue these specific documents.
Gift certificates or scrip (CH 9)
Retailing becomes unethical when a practitioner uses these types of tactics, which take advantage of the client's vulnerability in the power differential.
"Hard-sell" tactics (CH 9)
A practitioner is violating this specific law if they copy and distribute professional articles for client education without obtaining permission from the owner.
Copyright law (CH 9)
Because people rarely separate personal and professional personas online, every practitioner or group practice is urged to create this specific document.
A social media policy (CH 9)
This unethical tax practice involves a practitioner intentionally failing to report a portion of their business earnings to the government.
Concealing income (CH 9)
This is considered the primary "downside" of selling gift certificates, as it can lead to a practitioner working for long periods without receiving any new cash flow.
A future surge of work without current income (CH 9)
Selling these specific items is high-risk because it may lead a practitioner to work beyond their scope by appearing to "prescribe" a medical cure.
Nutritional supplements (CH 9)
According to the contract checklist, this is the essential legal distinction that must be made regarding how a practitioner is classified within a business.
Contractor vs. employee status (CH 9)
This modern digital feature can compromise client privacy by revealing the exact physical location of a practitioner or a client during a session.
Geotagging (CH 9)
This unethical practice occurs when a practitioner receives financial remuneration (money) simply for recommending a client to another specific professional.
A kickback (CH 9)
When engaging in barter, practitioners must carefully set these to ensure the trade is fair and reflects the actual professional value of the services
Barter prices (CH 9)
Retailing can ethically benefit a practice by providing convenience for the client and extending these specific outcomes to the client's home.
Treatment benefits (CH 9)
An individual is likely to be legally classified as this if they are required to comply with company instructions about when, where, and how to work.
An employee (CH 9)
When sharing content that you did not create yourself on social media, you are ethically obligated to provide this.
Reference or credit to the original source (CH 9)
A practitioner offers a "sliding fee scale" but decides who gets the discount based on how much they like the client personally. Why is this an ethical liability?
Because inconsistent fee application leads to payer discrimination and a breakdown of professional boundaries, effectively using money to play favorites rather than supporting client-centered care.
A practitioner barters with a web designer for a new site, but the designer never finishes the work. Why is the lack of a formal, written barter contract a violation of ethical business standards?
Because ethical barter requires setting healthy boundaries and realistic commitments; without a contract, there is no accountability, leading to professional resentment and potential legal disputes that damage the practitioner’s reputation.
A practitioner sells a client an expensive orthopedic pillow, claiming it will "fix" their neck pain. If the practitioner has no clinical data to support this, why is this retailing behavior an ethical breach?
Because it misrepresents the efficacy of a product to make a profit, thereby violating the practitioner's fiduciary duty to prioritize the client's actual wellness over personal financial gain.
You find a great diagram online and post it to your business social media page with your own logo over the original artist's name. Why is "I'm just sharing information" not an ethically sound defense?
Because it constitutes copyright infringement and a failure of self-accountability; ethically, a professional must always give proper credit to sources to maintain integrity and avoid legal liability
A practitioner posts a "vague" complaint about an anonymous "rude client" on their personal Facebook page. Why is this an ethical risk even if the client's name isn't mentioned?
Because it violates the spirit of professional confidentiality and projects an image that is not client-centered; additionally, friends or other clients might be able to identify the individual through context, leading to a breach of privacy and a loss of public trust.