Speak Out August 2016

Ethics News

Advertising: Review websites There has recently been an increase in the number of questions from members and discussions with National Office advisors regarding reviews or ratings on third party or independent directory or review websites. The guidelines for registered professions have been consulted, to bring SPA recommendations to our members into line with other allied health practice. SPA’s position on these third party websites is: According to the Code of Ethics - Advertising Policy, SPA members are not responsible for removing (or trying to have removed) unsolicited testimonials or reviews/ratings published on a website or in social media over which they do not have control. Members are not expected to monitor social media for information that may be written about their speech pathology services in forums that are not under the member’s control. It is permissible for members to allow the inclusion of their practice details on an independent third party directory, but members should not solicit testimonials, ratings or reviews

on these websites. Any information such as ratings, reviews or testimonials posted by another person on a third party website should not be shared, copied, or re-tweeted, as this could be considered to be advertising under the member’s control. If a member undertakes a formal, commercial arrangement with a third party or independent review website, then the entry for that members’ practice will be considered under their control, and must not contain reviews, ratings or testimonials. Members are also reminded of their ethical obligations to tell the truth and not use misleading ways to promote their services. These obligations prohibit the writing of reviews or ratings on the member’s own entry or another speech pathologist’s entry on a third party or review website. For further information or if you have questions please contact Trish Johnson, Senior Advisor Ethics and Professional Issues at National Office tjohnson@speechpathologyaustralia.org. au

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August 2016 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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