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Ethics Committee Process & Procedures

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ETHICS COMMITTEE PROCESS & PROCEDURES

ETHICS COMMITTEE OVERVIEW

The Healing Beyond Borders Ethics Committee (Ethics Committee) is a standing committee appointed by the Healing Beyond Borders Board of Directors (BOD). The BOD appoints members with expertise in handling ethical issues.

There are two kinds of ethics complaints: those involving instructional or clinical actions by individuals, and those dealing with business conduct related to advertising or organizational issues. They will be addressed separately.

The Ethics Committee reviews both types of complaints related to individuals' behavior, including those involving students, practitioners, instructors, or any course of study, by following a standard review process and then making decisions on those complaints. 

ETHICS COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITY

The Ethics Committee divides into two subcommittees when a complaint is received: a review subcommittee and an investigative subcommittee.

The Ethics Review Sub-Committee members identify and review issues, determine whether a violation has occurred, and, if so, impose sanctions.

The Ethics Investigative Sub-Committee collects essential data on the issues, including interviewing all involved parties.

There is a separate Ethics Appeals Committee, appointed by the relevant authority, and comprised of individuals who are not members of the Ethics Committee in the event of an appeal.

PROCESS FOR HANDLING ETHICAL CONCERNS

When possible, the Ethics Committee is committed to resolving ethics concerns informally through fostering communication between the parties involved and if necessary, using a mediation process. To achieve this, the following steps are recommended.

PROCESS PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TO ADDRESS ETHICAL CONCERNS

  1. The individual with the concern should write down what happened as soon as possible. You don’t want to forget important details. Additionally, a written account can be helpful for self-reflection. It can aid in calming strong emotions and bring clarity.
  2. List what you would like to happen; how would you consider the situation resolved (e.g., apology, return fee, acknowledge something…) This will help establish how a resolution could be accomplished.
  3. Please submit your written concern to the Ethics Committee Chair within 2 weeks of the event(s).
  4. An Ethics Committee member will contact you within 7 days to discuss your concerns and to assess whether an informal discussion with the involved individual would be appropriate or helpful.
  5. The Ethics Committee will decide within 1 week if your concerns are appropriate for an informal resolution.
  6. If the Ethics Committee finds that your concern is suitable for informal resolution, it will arrange a time and format that best addresses your concerns with the individual(s) involved as soon as possible. If no resolution is reached, the Ethics Committee can review with you how to file a formal complaint. See #2 below.
  7. If the Ethics Committee decides your concern isn't suitable for an informal resolution, they will inform you and request that you file a formal complaint if you want to continue. The Ethics Committee can review with you how to file a formal complaint. See #2 below
  8. The concern is not an ethical issue; the Ethics Committee may recommend seeking mediation, therapy, or coaching to resolve it.

FORMAL COMPLAINT PROCESS

The Ethics Committee is committed to handling all complaints with confidentiality and compassion, in accordance with the established complaint process. They can initiate mediation at any stage, and resolution may occur at any time. Additionally, the complaint can be withdrawn at any point in the process.

  1. Within seven 7 days of the Ethics Committee’s notification that informal resolution is not appropriate or that it was ineffective, you should file a formal complaint with the Ethics Committee if you decide to proceed with the process.
  2. The Ethics Complaint form can be downloaded from this link: Confidential Ethics Complaint Form. The Healing Beyond Borders office (303) 989-7982 can assist you in finding the form if necessary.
  3. Follow all the directions of the form and ensure it is completed correctly. If you require assistance completing the form, please contact the Chair of the Ethics Committee. Incomplete forms will be returned. Corrections must be made and the form resubmitted.
  4. Send the completed form by email attachment or post within 7 days to the following address: Healing Beyond Borders’ Office, marked “Confidential”:
  5. Your concerns or complaint should be sent only to the ethics committee, and under no circumstances should your concerns or your complaint be shared with any other part of the organization. We value your confidentiality and strive to maintain it.

Ethics Committee Chair
Healing Beyond Borders
7112 W. Jefferson Ave., Suite 301
Lakewood, CO 80235

Office: (303) 989-7982
Fax: (303) 980-8683
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PROCESS FOR HANDLING BUSINESS ETHICS COMPLAINTS

The Chair of the Ethics Committee or a designated Ethics Committee member will also receive these complaints. Business Ethics Complaints follow the same format and principles used for investigating ethical complaints related to clinical, educational, or instructional issues.

The Executive Director of Healing Beyond Borders, Educating and Certifying the Healing Touch® may be consulted by the Ethics Committee Chair as needed when handling business ethics complaints.

Examples of Business Ethics complaints include, but are not limited to, misusing the logo, credentials, materials, student lists, or membership privileges of Healing Beyond Borders, Educating and Certifying the Healing Touch®.

PRINCIPLES AND PROCESS

Confidentiality
Complaints are kept confidential and shared on a need-to-know basis with legal counsel and ethics consulting agencies, if necessary.

The Healing Beyond Borders Board of Directors (BOD) is only notified when a complaint is received, and then they receive a confidential summary of the final disposition for review and approval.

Ethics Support Guide
The Ethics Committee also provides the name(s) of the BOD-approved Ethics Support Guide to the individual named in the complaint, along with an explanation of the Ethics Support Guide role. The Ethics Committee chair or a designee makes a follow-up call to the individual to address any questions about the Ethics Support Guide and clarify the process. The individual is free to use the Ethics Support Guide's confidential support if they wish.

Acknowledgment of the Complaint
The Ethics Committee Chair or designated Ethics Committee member acknowledges receipt of the complaint to the individual who filed it within 7 days of receiving the complaint.

The Ethics Committee Chair reviews the complaint to ensure it is properly completed. If not, the Ethics Chair will either (a) contact the individual filing the complaint to confirm it is properly filled out or (b) send it back with instructions for correction. 

Review of the Complaint
The Ethics Review Sub-Committee assesses the complaint to determine whether the alleged facts constitute an ethical violation. If the Ethics Review Sub-Committee determines that the allegations in the complaint do constitute an ethical violation, they will forward the complaint to the Ethics Investigative Sub-Committee, which will then investigate and verify the accuracy of the alleged facts. 

The following documents are used as criteria for reviewing and investigating formal ethics complaints:

Healing Beyond Borders Code of Ethics/Standards of Practice for Healing Touch
Healing Beyond Borders Statement of Scope of Practice
Healing Beyond Borders Instructor Guidelines
Healing Beyond Borders Professional Development Series Instructor Guidelines
Healing Beyond Borders Business Ethics

Investigation Process
The Ethics Investigative Sub-Committee will interview the complainant, witnesses, and the alleged violator, then compose a summary of its findings. These findings are submitted to the Ethics Review Sub-Committee, which will decide whether the investigation shows a likelihood of ethical violations. (The Ethics Review Sub-Committee may request additional questioning.) 

Finding of No Violation
If the Ethics Review Sub-Committee determines that no charges will be filed, a resolution letter will be sent to the individual filing the complaint by certified mail within 7 days of that determination, stating that no charges will be applied because no ethical standards were violated.

Probability of Ethical Violation
When the Ethics Review Sub-Committee assesses the likelihood of ethical violations, the individual named is notified in writing of the alleged violations and has 14 days to provide additional information or clarification. If desired, the individual may request the presence of an authorized Ethics Support Guide provided by the Ethics Review Sub-Committee.

The whole Ethics Committee will decide if the alleged violator's response merits further investigation. 

If so, the Ethics Investigative Sub-Committee will carry out further investigations. These are expected to be finished within 30 days. Complex cases may take longer.

If the investigation exceeds 30 days, both parties will be notified.

Once all investigations are complete, the entire Ethics Committee will prepare a summary of the allegations.

If it is determined that a charge will be made, the Ethics Committee drafts the charges, specifies the particular action/s and the ethical standard/s violated, and recommends corrective measures or other resolutions of the complaint. 

Board of Directors Review and Approval
At the conclusion of a case review, the Ethics Review Sub-Committee will send a summary of the facts, charges, decision, and any corrective actions to the BOD for review and approval. Names will be kept confidential. Within 2 weeks, the BOD will either accept the decision as it is or return it to the Ethics Committee for reconsideration, after which the BOD will review it again for final approval. The BOD review and approval process should be completed within 30 days.

The Ethics Committee sends a letter with the BOD’s final decision to the individual named in the complaint. The letter should include the stipulations and inform the individual of their right to appeal the decision.

Public Safety
The Healing Beyond Borders’ certification for the individual named in the complaint may be temporarily suspended immediately if they are accused of actions that qualify as a felony in the state where it happened, any form of assault or sexual offense, or any action that could lead to the revocation of a state professional license, such as a registered nurse, physician, massage therapist, social worker, or psychologist. 

Healing Beyond Borders offers professional development opportunities and additional courses to support the growth of healers. If a Professional Development Instructor who does not possess Healing Beyond Borders certification credentials is involved, the instructor named in the complaint may be temporarily suspended from providing continuing education in the Professional Development Series. 

Types of Corrective Action
Corrective actions in response to an ethical violation are not intended as punishment, but as structured opportunities for learning and growth, so as not to be or perceived as being unethical. Their purpose is to help the individual reflect on what occurred, understand the impact of their actions, and strengthen their ability to uphold ethical standards in the future. By emphasizing development rather than blame, corrective actions support accountability while fostering a healthier, more ethical organizational culture.

Corrective Action may involve requiring any of the following actions, but is not limited to:

  • Letter of reprimand for the file
  • Remedial continuing education program
  • Peer support/supervision
  • Supervision of teaching for instructors
  • Individual counseling or therapy at one’s own expense
  • *Suspension of Healing Beyond Borders credentials for a period not to exceed 2 years
  • In the case of a Professional Development instructor without Healing Beyond Borders Credentials, suspension of participation and CE in the Professional Development series.
  • Revocation of Healing Beyond Borders credentials
  • In the case of a Professional Development Instructor without Healing Beyond Borders credentials, revocation of participation and CE in the Professional Development Series.
  • Notification to the state licensing board
  • Legal action

* If suspension for a certain period is chosen as a corrective action, the Ethics Review Sub-Committee recommends to the BOD whether to revoke or reinstate the individual's Healing Beyond Borders credentials at the end of the suspension period.

Corrective Action Follow Through
The individual named in the complaint is accountable for properly completing the corrective action as required. 

The Ethics Review Sub-Committee will evaluate all corrective actions to decide if they have been successfully completed or if additional steps are needed. 

Remediation might require validation from a professional expert, depending on the specific action involved. 

The corrective action will be completed within a reasonable time frame, as determined by the members of the Ethics Review Sub-Committee. A schedule may be needed for phased implementation of the corrective measures. 

Failure to comply will result in the BOD’s revocation of the individual’s Healing Beyond Borders certification.

Appeal Process
The individual named in the complaint may appeal the Ethics Committee’s decision to the Ethics Appeals Committee, which is appointed by the Executive Director of Healing Beyond Borders or their designee. No Ethics Committee member(s) who participated in any part of the ethics process related to the case may be appointed to the Ethics Appeals Committee.

Grounds for Appeal
Grounds for appeal are either that: (a) the Ethics Committee Process and Procedures were not followed, or (b) there is significant new information about the facts of a case that could not have been presented earlier and could materially affect the decision. No other grounds for appeal will be considered.

The appeal must be submitted within 14 days from the postmark date of the decision letter and sent in writing (by email or mail) to the Executive Director of HBB for forwarding to the Ethics Appeals Committee.

Executive Director
Healing Beyond Borders, Educating and Certifying the Healing Touch®
7112 W. Jefferson Ave., Suite 301
Lakewood, CO 80235
Office: 303-989-7982

The Ethics Appeals Committee will complete its review and make a decision within 30 days, then send it to the BOD. 

The BOD can accept and approve the decision as is or send parts of it back to the Ethics Appeals Committee for reconsideration, which will then return it to the BOD for final approval.

Notification of Appeal Decision
Once final BOD approval is granted for the Ethics Appeals Committee’s decision, the Ethics Appeals Committee chair will notify the individual named in the complaint in writing within 7 days by certified mail. At that point, the case will also be reported to the entire Ethics Committee.

 

© 1997 Healing Touch International, Inc.
Revised/Approved 2010, 11/11/2025, 3/16/2026