Hi SallyAnn,

I share your frustrations (even though I'm an audiologist!).  I'm not sure if I'm answering your specific question here, but I can share some information based on my experience and knowledge gained serving on ASHA's Board of Ethics a few years ago.  If someone if not a member of ASHA and/or does not hold the CCCs, ASHA's Code of Ethics (COE) does not have jurisdiction over their practice.  Thus, the "checks and balances" piece would fall to the state licensure board. 

This portion of the Preamble of ASHA's COE details which individuals the COE is applicable to:

" This Code of Ethics sets forth the fundamental principles and rules considered essential to this purpose and is applicable to the following individuals:

·       a member of ASHA holding the Certificate of Clinical Competence

·       a member of ASHA not holding the Certificate of Clinical Competence

·       a nonmember of ASHA holding the Certificate of Clinical Competence

·       an applicant for ASHA certification or for ASHA membership and certification"

As frustrating as all the "buzz" around this topic has been, the silver lining is that this presents a great opportunity to have educate students, mentees, and others in the profession on ASHA's COE.  I like to encourage everyone to take time to read the COE each year when they renew ASHA certification since in our renewal, we are attesting that we agree to abide by the Code. 

SallyAnn, the ASHA Ethics office is a GREAT resource, and they can be reached at ethics@asha.org.

Kind regards,

Margot

Margot L. Beckerman, AuD, CCC-A, ASHA Fellow

Associate Director of Audiology

ACU Manager, Michigan Balance-Vestibular Testing and Rehabilitation

Michigan Medicine Audiology

(734) 232-9399