ASHA-IIE-PUBLIC-STATEMENTS — ASHA Issues in Ethics: Public Announcements and Public Statements (2025)
What does ASHA-IIE-PUBLIC-STATEMENTS say?
SLPs and audiologists must ensure public statements are accurate, honest, and not misleading. Key guidance: (1) Public statements include paid/unpaid advertising, social media posts, marketing materials, professional profiles, and public speaking. (2) Statements about qualifications must accurately represent education, credentials, certifications, and areas of competence. (3) Testimonials may be used but must be truthful and not misleading about expected outcomes. (4) Product endorsements require disclosure of financial relationships or conflicts of interest. (5) Claims about treatment efficacy must be supported by evidence. (6) Credentials and titles used in marketing must be legitimately held (e.g., using "Dr." requires an earned doctoral degree). (7) Comparison advertising (comparing your services to competitors') must be factual and not disparaging. (8) Advertising prices or fees should be transparent and not misleading. (9) Online professional profiles and directory listings must be kept current and accurate. Relevant Code sections: Principle III Rules A, E, F, G (honesty, accurate public statements, no misrepresentation, no false statements); Principle IV Rules A, D (professional relationships, no disparagement).
Official source: read the full text in the ASHA Code of Ethics (2023) (official document).