1.2 Scope of Practice, Professional Ethics, and Discipline under RA 10862

Practice and ethics questions test whether you can recognize what the law allows, what it forbids, and how the Board disciplines registrants. Read scenario questions carefully: they often hinge on whether an act falls within the legal scope of practice or breaks a specific statutory duty.

Definitions in the Law

Section 4 of RA 10862 defines the key terms:

• Nutrition: the science of foods, nutrient composition, eating habits, nutritional status, and health and disease of individuals and populations, including the social, economic, environmental, cultural, political, and psychological implications of food and eating.
• Dietetics: the science and art of applying nutrition principles to the planning and preparation of foods and the regulation of the diet in health and disease, including the promotive, preventive, therapeutic, and administrative delivery of nutrition services in hospitals and food service and health care institutions.
• Nutritionist-dietitian: a registered and licensed person holding a valid certificate of registration and professional identification card issued by the Board and PRC.

The Seven Areas of Practice (Sec. 26)

A person practices nutrition and dietetics when, with or without compensation, he or she renders or offers services such as:

The Board, with PRC approval and AIPO consultation, may modify this scope consistent with the list. Section 27 directs the DOH, with the National Nutrition Council and the AIPO, to set the number of nutritionist-dietitians needed by health care institutions, and requires plantilla positions titled "nutritionist-dietitian," "nutritionist," or "dietitian" to be filled by registered nutritionist-dietitians.

Who May Lawfully Practice

• Registered nutritionist-dietitians with a valid certificate and identification card (Sec. 29).
• Foreign-licensed nutritionist-dietitians with a special or temporary permit (Sec. 29 and 32), for internationally known experts, urgently needed specialists, services for indigent patients or humanitarian missions, or exchange professors. Permits last no more than one year, subject to renewal. Foreign practitioners also depend on reciprocity (Sec. 31).

Duties of Registered Practitioners

The Code of Ethics

Section 11(b) requires the Board to adopt and promulgate a Code of Ethics, a Code of Good Governance, and a Code of Technical Standards. The Board hears cases on violations of these codes (Sec. 11(m)), and violating the Code of Ethics is a ground for suspension or revocation (Sec. 22(a)).

The Philippine Code of Ethics for Nutritionist-Dietitians is organized around the practitioner's responsibilities to clients, the community, co-workers, and the profession. Apply these principles to scenario questions:

• Client welfare first: recommendations must rest on sound evidence and the client's needs, not on commercial gain.
• Confidentiality: health and nutrition records are sensitive personal information under the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173). Share them only with authorized members of the care team, with consent, or as required by law.
• Honesty and conflicts of interest: do not endorse products with misleading claims or accept inducements that compromise judgment. In infant feeding, the Milk Code (EO 51) forbids manufacturers from offering financial or material inducements to health workers, and health workers from accepting them (Sec. 8(c)).
• Competence and collaboration: practice within your competence, refer when needed, and work respectfully with physicians, nurses, and other professionals.
• Upholding the profession: report illegal practice through proper channels and never lend your certificate or name to unlicensed persons.

Discipline and Penalties

Grounds for suspension or revocation (Sec. 22):

1. Violating the law, its IRR, the Code of Ethics, the Code of Good Governance, or Board and PRC standards and policies.
2. Conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude.
3. Fraud in obtaining a certificate, identification card, or permit.
4. Gross incompetence, negligence, or ignorance resulting in death, injury, or damage.
5. Not paying annual registration fees for five consecutive years.
6. Aiding illegal practice by letting others use one's certificate or card.
7. Practicing while suspended.
8. Drug or alcohol abuse impairing practice, or being declared of unsound mind by a court.

Anyone may file a sworn complaint with the Board, and the Board may recommend an investigation on its own motion. A revoked certificate may be reissued only after four years, without re-examination unless the ground was fraud (Sec. 23).

Criminal penalties (Sec. 39): a fine of not less than ₱300,000, imprisonment of not less than six months, or both, at the court's discretion, for:

• using the title "Nutritionist-Dietitian" or implying that one is qualified without a valid certificate and card;
• practicing without a valid certificate, card, or permit;
• using another person's seal, certificate, card, or permit;
• abetting illegal practice;
• obtaining registration through false information; or
• impersonating a registered practitioner or permit holder.