Ethical code
Hiporehabilitation workers of the civic association C. H. Mirákl, o.p.s. (hereinafter referred to as "hipotherapy workers") respect the dignity and value of an individual and they strive to keep and protect basic human rights, they respect animal rights and obey this code.
When achieving hiporehabilitation goals, they make every effort to protect the interests of our clients, of their close ones (provided that this is not in contradiction to the clients' needs) and of all participants of hiporehabilitation and of related activities.
Hiporehabilitation workers respect other members of their profession and of relative domains and they do all they can in order to provide complete information and to show mutual respect, provided that this is not contrary to the interests of their clients.
They use their knowledge only for purposes that are in accordance with those values and they don't knowingly allow their abuse.
Hiporehabilitation workers realize that they bear great responsibility, as their actions can affect the condition of other people (both mental and physical).
Hiporehabilitation workers make all matters that could be related to their mutual cooperation clear to their clients in advance. They avoid relations that could reduce their objectivity or pose a conflict of interests.
Hiporehabilitation workers are aware of the need for continuous education and personal development; they are open to new work procedures and qualification improvement in accordance with the development of their particular field.
Hiporehabilitation workers realize that personal issues and conflicts can affect their work performance. They shall therefore refrain from any activities in which their personal problems could cause insufficient performance or harm to the client, a colleague, a student or any other activity participant.
In their operation, hiporehabilitation workers refrain from any activities that violate or restrict human, legal or civic rights of clients or other persons that those rights could affect, animal rights or sanitary regulations.
When hiporehabilitation workers are confronted with a different opinion, they accept and respect different point of view and individual feelings the clients, students or practical training participants may have regarding such matters.
One of the primary responsibilities of hiporehabilitation workers is to respect confidentiality of information obtained from persons during their hiporehabilitation activities. They are allowed to disclose such information to others only by the approval of the given person (or his or her legal representative), with the exception of such uncommon cases when non-disclosure of such information would most likely pose danger to the given person or to other persons. Hipotherapists shall inform their clients about legal boundaries of confidentiality.
Under normal circumstances, the approval to disclose information should be obtained from the involved person in writing.
Information is discussed only for professional reasons and only with involved persons. Only data directly related to the purpose of evaluation or lecture is stated both orally and in writing and every effort is made to prevent inappropriate invasion into privacy.
Hiporehabilitation workers, who publicly present in their studies, lectures or elsewhere any personal information obtained when practicing their profession, must do so based on prior written permission or they must appropriately withhold all data that could lead to identification of the given person.
Hipotherapists respect integrity of people and groups that they work with and protect their interests. When there is a conflict of interests between a client and the institution that employs the hiporehabilitation workers, the hiporehabilitation workers shall inform both sides about their obligations and responsibilities and communicate their decision to them.
Hiporehabilitation workers shall inform clients, colleagues and other workers and specialists as regards the sense and the nature of their activities and techniques and methods they use. Forcing people to participate or insisting on using services is unethical.
Hiporehabilitation workers shall discontinue rehabilitation activities as soon as it becomes clear that they are not beneficial for the client or as soon as the client asks them to.
Hiporehabilitation workers act with regard to the needs, different competences and responsibilities of their colleagues – zoologists, therapists, psychotherapists, psychologists, physicians and personnel and workers of other professions. They respect the rights and obligations that those colleagues might have towards institutions and organizations that they are connected to.
Hiporehabilitation workers know fields of competence of related professions. The fully use all specialist, technical and administrative resources in order to provide their clients with the best service possible. They minimize absence of work relations with workers of other professions.
