ASHA-IIE-PRIVATE-PRACTICE — ASHA Issues in Ethics: Obtaining Clients for Private Practice From Primary Employment (2025)
What does ASHA-IIE-PRIVATE-PRACTICE say?
SLPs and audiologists who maintain both employment and private practice face ethical obligations regarding client recruitment. Key guidance: (1) Using one's position at a primary employer to recruit clients for private practice is unethical if it involves misuse of employer resources or relationships. (2) Case illustrations — Schools: An SLP may not use school IEP meetings to suggest parents seek private services from them. Medical: An SLP may not steer hospital patients to their private practice during discharge planning. University clinic: Faculty may not redirect clinic referrals to their private practice. Long-term care: An SLP may not suggest to residents/families that they would receive better care privately. (3) Ethical approaches include: maintaining transparent disclosure of dual roles; following employer policies on outside employment; ensuring primary employment duties are not compromised; avoiding conflicts of interest; and allowing clients to make independent, informed choices about providers. (4) Non-compete or non-solicitation agreements must be honored. (5) Using employer client lists, contact information, or records for private practice purposes is unethical. Relevant Code sections: Principle I Rule S (conflicts of interest); Principle III Rules A, D (honesty, no fraud); Principle IV Rules A, B (collegial relationships, independent judgment).
Official source: read the full text in the ASHA Code of Ethics (2023) (official document).