The American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (“the ABCP”) seeks to promote the provision of safe, competent medical care for all patients requiring cardiovascular perfusion services. To that end, the ABCP administers a certification program, leading to the Certified Clinical Perfusionist credential. The certification program includes experience requirements, a certification examination and periodic re-certification and compliance with these Ethical Standards.
The Ethical Standards apply to persons holding certification credentials from the Board and to persons applying for examination and certification by the ABCP in order to become Certified Clinical Perfusionists. These Ethical Standards are intended to be consistent with the ABCP’s Mission, Purposes and Objectives.
Each Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP), CCP Emeritus, and exam applicant (or candidate for certification), (hereinafter, referred to as "individual,") shall comply with, and bear responsibility for demonstrating compliance with, all existing and future rules and Ethical Standards of the ABCP. An individual is eligible to apply for certification or re-certification only when in compliance with all ABCP rules and Ethical Standards.
From time to time the ABCP may make changes to these Ethical Standards. In the event of such changes, the ABCP will notify the clinical perfusionist community through newsletters, the appropriate journals or electronic means. Copies of the current version of these Ethical Standards may be obtained by visiting the ABCP website at www.abcp.org or by contacting the ABCP.
Ethical Standards
I. Each individual shall comply with all existing and future rules, regulations and standards of the ABCP and will bear responsibility for demonstrating compliance with the same. An individual is eligible to apply for, and maintain certification/recertification, only when in compliance with all the ABCP rules, regulations and standards.
If an individual is not in compliance with the ABCP rules, regulations or standards, the ABCP may impose one or more of the following sanctions: deny or suspend eligibility; deny, revoke, refuse to renew, or suspend certification; issue a reprimand; or take other corrective action regarding certification or recertification.
II. The individual shall not fail to promote the safety and welfare of the public, whether through negligent acts, acts of omission or through misrepresentation. Failure to promote public safety and welfare, or the provision of safe, competent medical care includes, but is not limited to:
A. impairment of professional performance because of use of alcohol, drugs, or other substance, or any physical or mental condition;
B. gross or repeated negligence or malpractice in professional work;
C. noncompliance with laws related to the profession;
D. failure to maintain a current professional credential as required by the jurisdiction in which the individual practices (this may include a license, certificate, or registration);
E. the conviction of, plea of guilty to, or plea of nolo contendere to a felony related to public health and safety or the profession; and
F. disciplinary action by a licensing board or professional organization other than the ABCP.
III. The individual convicted of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony directly related to public health and safety or the provision of safe, competent medical care shall be considered ineligible to apply for certification/recertification for a period of one year from the exhaustion of the appeals process or final release from confinement (if any), or the end of probation, whichever is later. An individual who is incarcerated, or for whom incarceration is pending, as of the application deadline date is ineligible for certification or recertification to the end of incarceration.
Felony convictions considered for this standard include, but are not limited to, fraud, actual or threatened use of a weapon or violence, rape, sexual abuse of a patient or child, or prohibited sale, distribution, possession, or misuse of controlled substances.
IV. The individual shall not engage in unauthorized possession or misuse of the ABCP’s credential, examinations, and other intellectual property. The individual shall respect the ABCP’s intellectual property rights and comply with the ABCP use of Credential Trademark Policy.
V. The individual shall not misrepresent their certification status or misuse any title or membership in any professional organization or community.
VI. The individual shall abide by the ABCP’s reasonable test administration rules. The individual shall have had no unauthorized possession of, use of, or access to any examination documents or materials, nor shall the individual receive any unauthorized assistance, copy examination materials, or cause a disruption in the testing area during a test administration or the conduction of any portion of the certification examination. The individual shall not subsequently use or divulge information gained from their examination experience for any reason.
VII. The individual must truthfully complete and sign an application in the form provided by the ABCP, pay the required fees, and provide additional information as requested. The individual shall not make any material misrepresentation of fact during application for certification/recertification. Ineligibility for certification, regardless of when the ineligibility is discovered, is grounds for disciplinary action.
VIII. The individual with a reasonable basis for believing that a violation of these Ethical Standards has occurred shall report such possible violation in writing to the Executive Director of the ABCP.