College Policy

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A. Academic Freedom

All faculty at NYITCOM/NYIT work within the context of the institution's commitment of the principles of academic freedom:

The faculty member is entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing his/her subject, but should be careful not to introduce into the teaching controversial matters that have no relation to the subject being taught.

The college or university instructor is a citizen, a member of a learned profession, and an officer of an educational institution. When he/she speaks or writes as a citizen, he/she should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but his/her special position in the community imposes special obligations. As a person of learning and an educational officer, he/she should be mindful that the public may judge the profession and the institution by these utterances. Hence, he/she should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that he/she is not an institutional spokesperson.

The instructor is entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of results, subject to the adequate performance of other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the Vice President of Health and Medical Affairs.

B. Code of Ethics

Every faculty member has an obligation to be loyal to NYIT and to carry out his or her employment duties with reasonable care so that the educational purposes of NYIT and its mission as a college are effectively promoted as well as the Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association.

NYIT is committed to accomplishing its objectives in compliance with all laws and regulations. Faculty are required to comply with all administrative policies and with procedures that are based on these legal constraints. All faculty members must be familiar with the NYIT Code of Conduct.

In addition, NYITCOM has adopted the following code for professional conduct.

NYITCOM Code of Professional Conduct

Preamble

NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine faculty, committed to providing a welcoming environment conducive to optimal education, clinical care, research, and maintenance of the highest levels of professional and ethical standards within a collegial environment, in addition to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Code of Ethics, we the faculty hereby adopt this Code of Professional Conduct. Faculty at NYITCOM are expected to:

Professionalism and Honesty

Demonstrate integrity, honesty and mutual respect in an effort to facilitate effective teamwork with their faculty colleagues, staff, students and patients.
Conduct themselves professionally in their demeanor, appearance, use of language and communications in the presence of colleagues, peers, students and patients as well as in the classroom, on social media platforms, e-mail, and in all healthcare settings.
Refrain from using alcohol or drugs in any way that would interfere with their teaching, clinical and other professional responsibilities.
Refrain from using their professional position to engage in inappropriate relationships with faculty colleagues, staff, students, patients or members of their families.
Maintain the highest standards of academic and personal honesty.
Conduct research in an unbiased manner, report results truthfully and credit ideas developed and work done by others.
Refrain from giving any unpermitted aid to students in their examinations or studies.

Respect and Compassion

Contribute to the development and maintenance of an educational environment which fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust among our faculty colleagues, staff, students, patients and their family members.
Evaluate our faculty colleagues and students in an impartial manner and promote the resolution of any conflicts in a way that respects the dignity of every person involved.
Treat each body donor with the utmost respect and reverence.
Refrain from discriminating against or discriminatory harassment of other faculty colleagues, staff, students and patients due to their race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, political views, creed or religion, or veteran status or any other protected classification.
Treat other faculty, students, staff, patients and their family members with respect and dignity both in their presence and in discussions with other individuals.
Approach other faculty, students, staff, patients and their family members with genuine empathy and compassion.
Proactively recognize signs of physical and/or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress in faculty colleagues, self, staff and students, and guide those in need towards the proper resources.

Responsibility

Acknowledge personal responsibility for their actions, recognizing potential errors in judgment and take the appropriate measures to rectify them.
Monitor and maintain their physical and mental health, including seeking help when needed.
Support the well-being of colleagues, staff and students, reach out to those individuals showing difficulty with their well-being and offer support if requested and are able.
Meet professional and educational responsibilities.

Education

Support an institutional culture that fosters a commitment to lifelong learning throughout the faculty and students' careers.
Promote the joy of learning by providing students with clear explanations and guidelines regarding assignments and examinations.
Provide an education fitting for all students we teach.
Challenge students with rigorous curriculum without resorting to unjust and/or humiliating treatment.
Encourage and celebrate the scholarly exchange of diverse ideas, opinions, and perspectives from faculty colleagues, staff and students.

Affirmation

I affirm my commitment to upholding all aspects of professionalism contained in this statement and the AOA Code of Ethics (below) during my tenure as a member of the faculty.

Faculty members who have questions about ethical responsibilities and requirements may confer with NYIT's general counsel or with the Vice President for Health and Medical Affairs.

Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association

The American Osteopathic Association has formulated this Code to guide its member physicians in their professional lives. The standards presented are designed to address the osteopathic physician's ethical and professional responsibilities to patients, to society, to the AOA, to others involved in healthcare and to self.

Further, the American Osteopathic Association has adopted the position that physicians should play a major role in the development and instruction of medical ethics.

Section 1. The physician shall keep in confidence whatever she/he may learn about a patient in the discharge of professional duties. Information shall be divulged by the physician when required by law or when authorized by the patient.

Section 2. The physician shall give a candid account of the patient's condition to the patient or to those responsible for the patient's care.

Section 3. A physician-patient relationship must be founded on mutual trust, cooperation, and respect. The patient, therefore, must have complete freedom to choose her/his physician. The physician must have complete freedom to choose patients whom she/he will serve. However, the physician should not refuse to accept patients for reasons of discrimination, including, but not limited to, the patient's race, creed, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. In emergencies, a physician should make her/his services available. View further interpretation.

Section 4. A physician is never justified in abandoning a patient. The physician shall give due notice to a patient or to those responsible for the patient's care when she/he withdraws from the case so that another physician may be engaged.

Section 5. A physician should make a reasonable effort to partner with patients to promote their health and shall practice in accordance with the body of systematized and scientific knowledge related to the healing arts. A physician shall maintain competence in such systematized and scientific knowledge through study and clinical applications.

Section 6. The osteopathic medical profession has an obligation to society to maintain its high standards and, therefore, to continuously regulate itself. A substantial part of such regulation is due to the efforts and influence of the recognized local, state and national associations representing the osteopathic medical profession. A physician should maintain membership in and actively support such associations and abide by their rules and regulations.

Section 7. Under the law a physician may advertise, but no physician shall advertise or solicit patients directly or indirectly through the use of matters or activities which are false or misleading. View further interpretation.

Section 8. A physician shall not hold forth or indicate possession of any degree recognized as the basis for licensure to practice the healing arts unless she/he is actually licensed on the basis of that degree in the state or other jurisdiction in which she/he practices. A physician shall designate her/his osteopathic or allopathic credentials in all professional uses of her/his name. Indications of specialty practice, membership in professional societies, and related matters shall be governed by rules promulgated by the American Osteopathic Association. View further interpretation.

Section 9. A physician should not hesitate to seek consultation whenever she/he believes it is in the best interest of the patient.

Section 10. In any dispute between or among physicians involving ethical or organizational matters, the matter in controversy should first be referred to the appropriate arbitrating bodies of the profession.

Section 11. In any dispute between or among physicians regarding the diagnosis and treatment of a patient, the attending physician has the responsibility for final decisions, consistent with any applicable hospital rules or regulations.

Section 12. Any fee charged by a physician shall compensate the physician for services actually rendered. There shall be no division of professional fees for referrals of patients.

Section 13. A physician shall respect the law. When necessary a physician shall attempt to help to formulate the law by all proper means in order to improve patient care and public health.

Section 14. In addition to adhering to the foregoing ethical standards, a physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in community activities and services.

Section 15. It is considered sexual misconduct for a physician to have sexual contact with any patient with whom a physician-patient relationship currently exists.

Section 16. Sexual harassment by a physician is considered unethical. Sexual harassment is defined as physical or verbal intimation of a sexual nature involving a colleague or subordinate in the workplace or academic setting, when such conduct creates an unreasonable, intimidating, hostile or offensive workplace or academic setting.

Section 17. From time to time, industry may provide some AOA members with gifts as an inducement to use their products or services. Members who use these products and services as a result of these gifts, rather than simply for the betterment of their patients and the improvement of the care rendered in their practices, shall be considered to have acted in an unethical manner. View further interpretation.

Section 18. A physician shall not intentionally misrepresent himself/herself or his/her research work in any way.

Section 19. When participating in research, a physician shall follow the current laws, regulations and standards of the United States or, if the research is conducted outside the United States, the laws, regulations and standards applicable to research in the nation where the research is conducted. This standard shall apply for physician involvement in research at any level and degree of responsibility, including, but not limited to, research, design, funding, participation either as examining and/or treating provider, supervision of other staff in their research, analysis of data and publication of results in any form for any purpose.

This code of ethics may be found at the American Osteopathic Association.

D. Intellectual Property, Copyrights and Patents

NYIT's rules and policies on Intellectual Property, Public Presentations, Copyrights and Patents may be found in the Faculty Handbook: U.S. Campuses.

NYIT's general counsel is available to advise on intellectual property policies and procedures.

E. Confidentiality

NYIT's rules on confidentiality may be found in the Employee Handbook: United States Based Employees.

F. Conflict of Interest

NYIT's rules and policies on conflict of interest may be found in the Employee Handbook: United States Based Employees.

G. Drug and Alcohol Policy

NYIT's drug and alcohol policy may be found in the Employee Handbook: United States Based Employees.

H. Equal Employment Opportunity

NYIT's statement on equal employment opportunity may be found in the Employee Handbook: United States Based Employees.

I. No Smoking Policy

NYIT is a smoke free workplace. For more information see the Employee Handbook: United States Based Employees.