You are not currently signed in.    Sign in now   or    Don't have a password?

Call +61 2 9256 5444   or contact
 Australia
 New Zealand
 
 
Home > Code of Practice
 

Basic Training

 

Code of Practice

1. Introduction

1.1. The Code of Practice relates to the use of any or all online teaching or learning tools provided by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians ("the College") to you, that you may use as a trainee, supervisor or Fellow ("Online Tools"). This includes all communications made on any forum, including, but not limited to discussion forums, wikis, blogs and emails ("Online Communications").

1.2. The use of the Online Tools and Online Communications depend upon an attitude of professional and academic conduct co-operation, respect and security from interference or harrying.

2. Disclaimers

2.1. The College does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage suffered by the user as a result of using Online Tools or as a result of any Online Communication, including, but not limited to, any loss or damage resulting from the user's reliance on any information contained in the Online Tools or any Online Communications;

2.2. The College does not accept responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of any material contained in the Online Tools or any Online Communications. The College recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its contents.

2.3. References to web sites are provided as a service only and do not necessarily constitute  endorsement. Equally, omissions should not be construed as non-endorsement. Although every care is taken to provide links to suitable material, The College does not guarantee the suitability, completeness or accuracy of any material encountered through those sites. Further, The College does not guarantee that any of the sites listed will be available at any particular time or any services which might be announced.

3. Authorised access

Your account and password are your responsibility, therefore you must:

3.1. ensure you select a secure password that could not be known or likely be guessed by another person;

3.2. not share your password with any other person;

3.3. ensure that details of your account and password are adequately secured;

3.4. not do anything that may cause, purposely or otherwise, the introduction or spread of a virus.

4. Unauthorised access

4.1. In the event that another person uses your account either with or without your knowledge or permission, all materials or communications originating from your account remain your own responsibility, regardless of whether or not you are the author.

4.2. If you know or suspect that another person has gained unauthorised access to your account, you must notify the College immediately

4.3. You must not attempt to ascertain others users passwords, or attempt to access any information unless you have permission to do so.

5. Use of obscene and other harmful communications

5.1 You must not use the Online Tools or Online Communications to communicate any material in violation of State or Federal law or other College policies and regulations. This includes any material that terrorizes, intimidates or isolates groups for humiliation, discrimination, vilification or harassment

5.2 You agree not to submit any offensive or obscene material via the Online Tools or Online Communications;

5.3 Be aware of ‘Netiquette` will further assist you to understand professional, ethical and respectful behaviour online.

6. Confidentiality

6.1. The College will treat use of the Online Tools and all Online Communications with utmost confidentiality, except as provided below. Where the College monitors Online Communications and the Online Tools, it will do so only for the purposes outlined below, and will not divulge, communicate or distribute any information to any other party or otherwise act in any way that would breach confidentiality, unless required to do so by law;

6.2. The College reserves the right to monitor both usage of the Online Tools and Online Communications to identify inappropriate use; protect system security; and maintain system performance;

6.3. You should assume that all Online Communications could and may be read by people other than the intended recipients;

6.4. The College reserves the right to inspect, copy, store and/or disclose the contents of any Online Communication and Online Tools for the purposes of identifying inappropriate use. The contents of any Online Communication may be disclosed without your permission should there be a need for investigation;

6.5. You are required to keep the identity of any patients or colleagues anonymous when using the Online Tools and Online Communications, and discussion of patients and colleagues must be de-identified.

7. Copyright and plagiarism

7.1. The Commonwealth Copyright Act (1968) sets out the exclusive rights of copyright owners and the rights of users;

7.2. The material in this Code of Practice and in the Online Tools and Online Communications may be subject to copyright, and any further reproduction or communication by you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act. Where in doubt about reproducing any Online Communication or any part of the Online Tools, you must contact the College prior to reproduction and seek permission to reproduce that material.

7.3. You must have the permission of the people in any picture or video (or copyright owner) used in any Online Tool or Online Communication

7.4. You certify that the content of any Online Communication is substantially your own, and where any part of the content is not your own, you must indicate this by acknowledging the source accordingly;

7.5. Any material in the Online Tools or Online Communications has been reproduced and communicated to you by, and on behalf of, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians pursuant to Part VB of the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act);

7.6. You agree to academic honesty: to submit work which is entirely your own and correctly reference other's thoughts and work and avoid plagiarism, namely the presentation of another person's thoughts or work as if they were your own.

References

Shea, V. The Core Rules of Netiquette, http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html accessed 12th Feb 2009.

[Top]

 
© 2009 The Royal Australasian College of Physicians.  Privacy  I  Site Map  I  Call +61 2 9256 5444 or contact