Clinical Ethics

Our Commitment to Safe, Respectful & Ethical Care

At HOPES.LK, we believe that quality healthcare begins with trust, respect, compassion, and professional responsibility.

Our platform is committed to supporting an environment where every individual can access care in a manner that respects their dignity, privacy, autonomy, and wellbeing.

We expect healthcare and wellbeing professionals using HOPES.LK to uphold appropriate professional and ethical standards in their interactions with patients and clients.

1. Respect for Every Individual

Every person deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.

We are committed to promoting care that is free from discrimination based on factors including:

Age
Gender
Disability
Background
Personal beliefs
Relationship status
Socioeconomic circumstances
Health status

Professionals should maintain a respectful, non-judgmental, and inclusive approach when providing care.

2. Patient Autonomy

Patients have the right to participate in decisions about their own care.

Healthcare professionals should:

Explain relevant options clearly.
Respect informed choices.
Allow patients to ask questions.
Respect a patient’s decision to decline or discontinue a treatment where legally and clinically appropriate.
Avoid pressuring patients into unnecessary services or treatments.

Our goal is to support informed decision-making rather than replace it.

3. Informed Consent

Appropriate informed consent should be obtained before providing healthcare, counselling, or other professional services.

Patients should receive appropriate information about:

The nature of the consultation or treatment
Relevant benefits and risks
Available alternatives
Expected outcomes where reasonably foreseeable
Fees or applicable charges
The professional’s role and limitations

Consent should be voluntary and based on sufficient information to make an informed decision.

4. Confidentiality & Privacy

Confidentiality is fundamental to effective healthcare and counselling.

Professionals using HOPES.LK are expected to protect information shared by patients and clients and to handle personal and health information responsibly.

Information should only be accessed, used, or disclosed for appropriate professional purposes and in accordance with applicable laws, professional standards, and legitimate consent.

There may be circumstances where confidentiality cannot be maintained, such as where disclosure is required by law or necessary to address a serious and immediate safety concern.

For more information about how HOPES.LK handles personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

5. Professional Boundaries

Healthcare professionals are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with patients and clients.

Professionals should not:

Exploit a patient’s vulnerability.
Engage in inappropriate personal or sexual relationships with patients.
Use their professional position for personal benefit.
Request inappropriate personal information.
Engage in conduct that could reasonably undermine trust or professional care.

Professional relationships should remain focused on the patient’s wellbeing and the purpose of the service.

6. Competence & Professional Responsibility

Professionals listed on HOPES.LK should provide services only within the areas in which they have appropriate education, training, experience, and professional competence.

Professionals are responsible for:

Maintaining appropriate professional knowledge.
Keeping their qualifications and registration information accurate.
Recognising the limits of their expertise.
Seeking appropriate assistance or referrals when necessary.
Maintaining appropriate professional standards.
Following applicable clinical and professional guidelines.

HOPES.LK does not encourage professionals to provide services outside their area of competence.

7. Evidence-Informed Care

Where appropriate, healthcare decisions should be informed by current evidence, professional knowledge, clinical judgement, and the individual circumstances of the patient.

Professionals should avoid making unsupported claims about treatments, products, procedures, or expected outcomes.

Patients should receive information that is reasonably clear, balanced, and appropriate to their circumstances.

8. Patient Safety

Patient safety is a fundamental priority.

Professionals should take reasonable steps to identify and respond to relevant risks during consultations.

Where a patient’s needs fall outside the scope of an online consultation or the professional’s expertise, the professional may recommend:

In-person assessment
Referral to another healthcare professional
Emergency medical assistance
Additional diagnostic evaluation
Other appropriate support

HOPES.LK is not an emergency medical service.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, contact your local emergency service or go to the nearest emergency department.

9. Mental Health & Psychological Safety

Mental health consultations require particular sensitivity, respect, and professional boundaries.

Counselling and mental health professionals should provide an environment where clients can discuss personal concerns without unnecessary judgement or stigma.

Professionals should also recognise situations where a client’s needs may exceed the scope of routine counselling or require urgent intervention.

HOPES.LK should not be used as a substitute for emergency psychiatric or medical care.

10. Children & Vulnerable Individuals

Additional care should be taken when providing services involving children, adolescents, or individuals who may require additional protection.

Professionals should:

Follow applicable consent requirements.
Consider the individual’s age and level of understanding.
Protect confidentiality appropriately.
Prioritise safety and wellbeing.
Follow applicable safeguarding requirements.

Where appropriate, a parent or legally authorised guardian may need to provide consent.

11. Cultural Sensitivity

Healthcare is personal and can be influenced by cultural, social, family, and individual circumstances.

Professionals are encouraged to consider these factors when providing care and to communicate in a culturally respectful and sensitive manner.

Differences in beliefs or personal circumstances should not be used as a basis for discriminatory or disrespectful treatment.

12. Transparency & Professional Communication

Patients should receive clear and honest information about the services they are receiving.

Professionals should communicate appropriately about:

Their qualifications
Their professional role
Services offered
Fees
Appointment arrangements
Treatment or consultation expectations
Relevant limitations

Professionals should not make misleading claims regarding their qualifications, experience, services, or expected outcomes.

13. Conflicts of Interest

Professionals should identify and appropriately manage situations where personal, financial, or professional interests could influence patient care.

Patients should not be pressured to purchase unnecessary products, treatments, or services for the personal benefit of a professional.

Where a significant conflict of interest exists, appropriate disclosure or referral should be considered.

14. Referrals & Continuity of Care

When a patient’s needs fall outside a professional’s scope of practice, appropriate referral should be considered.

Professionals should make reasonable efforts to support continuity of care when a patient requires another healthcare professional or service.

Where appropriate, relevant information may be shared with another professional with the patient’s consent or where otherwise permitted or required by law.

15. Online Consultation Ethics

Online consultations require the same commitment to professionalism, confidentiality, and patient safety as in-person care.

Professionals providing online consultations should:

Use appropriate secure technology.
Conduct consultations in a private environment.
Protect patient information.
Confirm that online consultation is appropriate for the patient’s needs.
Clearly communicate when an in-person assessment is necessary.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Patients are also encouraged to participate in consultations from a private and secure environment.

16. Advertising & Professional Representation

Information presented by professionals through HOPES.LK should be accurate and not misleading.

Professionals should not:

Make false claims about qualifications.
Guarantee medical or psychological outcomes.
Make unsupported claims about treatments.
Misrepresent professional experience.
Use testimonials or reviews in a misleading manner.

HOPES.LK may review or remove professional information that does not meet our platform standards or applicable requirements.

17. Feedback & Complaints

We encourage patients and clients to raise concerns when they believe that their experience has not met appropriate professional or ethical standards.

If you have a concern about a professional or service accessed through HOPES.LK, please contact us with relevant information about your experience.

We may review complaints and, where appropriate, take actions such as:

Requesting additional information
Contacting the relevant professional
Reviewing professional information
Restricting or removing a professional’s platform access
Referring matters to an appropriate authority where required

A complaint submitted to HOPES.LK does not replace any rights you may have to contact a relevant professional regulatory or legal authority.

18. Professional Accountability

Healthcare professionals remain responsible for the professional services, clinical decisions, advice, diagnoses, treatments, and recommendations they provide.

HOPES.LK provides a platform to facilitate access to professionals but does not replace the professional’s clinical judgement or professional obligations.

Professionals are expected to comply with the laws, regulations, licensing requirements, and ethical standards applicable to their profession.

19. Our Commitment

At HOPES.LK, we aim to build a healthcare platform based on:

Respect
Every individual deserves dignity and compassionate care.

Safety
Patient and client wellbeing comes first.

Confidentiality
Personal information should be handled responsibly and respectfully.

Integrity
Professionals should communicate honestly and transparently.

Competence
Care should be provided within appropriate professional expertise.

Autonomy
People should be supported in making informed decisions about their care.

Compassion
Healthcare should recognise the person behind the condition.

20. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback regarding clinical ethics or professional conduct on HOPES.LK, please contact us.

HOPES.LK

Email: info@hopes.lk
Phone: 077 507 3636

We appreciate feedback that helps us maintain a safe, respectful, and trustworthy healthcare environment.