Ethical Exemption Policy

Each of our Providers practice according to the legal and ethical obligations of their professional licensure, state of licensure, and/or professional association. These ethics include confidentiality as stated above. A general guideline is Providers should not have dual relationships (in some way connected outside of therapy) with clients. Sometimes this is unavoidable in the Global Worker world and, if it were to occur, would need to be discussed in the therapeutic relationship. Some states also require an explicit statement that no sexual contact is allowed between Providers and their Clients.

Valeo as an organization incorporates a historical Judeo-Christian worldview, one that is derived from both special revelation (the Bible) and general revelation (general science/social research). Christian counselors consider the Bible to be the final authoritative basis for faith, values, and all ethics and interventions. 

In healthcare, the professional has a Right of Conscience. This right of choice of moral refusal is foundational and applies to all participants, including patients and healthcare professionals. Healthcare by its nature cannot be morally neutral, as it is actively concerned with human health and needs.

Issues of conscience arise when a proposed therapy, referral, or medical intervention conflicts with the deeply held personal beliefs and values of the patient or the healthcare professional. Valeo believes that in such circumstances, Rights of Conscience have priority.

Conscience lies at the heart of the healthcare professional's commitment to honesty, compassion, excellence, and ownership of responsibility to prevent harm and is inseparable from the moral integrity, hence the trustworthiness, of the healthcare professional.

All healthcare professionals have the right to refuse to participate in situations, referrals, or goals of treatment that they believe to be morally wrong and/or harmful to the patient or others. In such circumstances, healthcare professionals have no moral obligation to refer to someone willing to perform the treatment, but they do have an obligation to ensure that the patient’s records are transferred to the healthcare professional of the patient’s choice.

The last four paragraphs are adapted from the AAME Healthcare Professional’s Right of Conscience Statement available here.