Code of Conduct

Last Updated: 1 November 2025

1. Our Community Vision

The Virtuoso Academy community is a professional learning environment where healthcare and wellness practitioners collaborate, share insights, and support each other’s growth. This Code of Conduct establishes standards to ensure our community remains welcoming, respectful, and productive for all members.

2. Our Values

2.1 Core Principles

Respect: Treat every member with dignity and professionalism
Integrity: Maintain honesty and ethical standards
Collaboration: Support peer learning through generous knowledge sharing
Evidence: Base discussions on facts and professional experience
Confidentiality: Protect patient privacy and sensitive information
Growth: Embrace continuous learning and constructive feedback

2.2 Professional Standards

  • Adhere to your professional codes of ethics
  • Maintain healthy boundaries
  • Practise within your professional scope
  • Prioritise patient welfare and public trust
  • Model professionalism in digital spaces

3. Expected Behaviour

3.1 Respectful Communication

We expect all members to:

  • Use professional and courteous language
  • Assume good intentions
  • Disagree respectfully
  • Listen to diverse perspectives
  • Acknowledge contributions
  • Be patient with those less familiar with technology
  • Welcome new members warmly

3.2 Professional Contributions

Quality Participation:

  • Share relevant insights
  • Provide evidence or reasoning
  • Cite sources appropriately
  • Note uncertainties and limitations
  • Distinguish opinion from fact
  • Stay on topic

Constructive Engagement:

  • Ask clarifying questions
  • Offer actionable feedback
  • Suggest alternatives when critiquing
  • Recognise good work
  • Assist others’ learning

3.3 Knowledge Sharing

Best Practices:

  • Share experiences and lessons learned
  • Provide context for recommendations
  • Explain reasoning clearly
  • Reference course materials where relevant
  • Share reputable external resources
  • Credit others’ ideas

Avoid:

  • Gatekeeping expertise
  • Dismissing basic questions
  • Sharing incomplete or misleading information
  • Claiming expertise outside your qualifications

3.4 Patient Privacy and Confidentiality

Mandatory:

  • Never share identifiable patient information
  • Anonymise all case examples
  • Remove dates, locations, and specific details
  • Obtain consent when required
  • Comply with HIPAA, GDPR, and privacy laws

Prohibited Red Flags:

  • Patient names or initials
  • Specific dates
  • Rare or identifiable cases
  • Images with identifiable information
  • Overly detailed case descriptions

4. Unacceptable Behaviour

4.1 Harassment and Discrimination

  • Personal attacks or derogatory comments
  • Harassment, including sexual harassment
  • Discrimination based on protected characteristics
  • Threats or intimidation
  • Stalking or unwanted attention
  • Doxxing or revealing private information

4.2 Disruptive Behaviour

  • Trolling or provocative comments
  • Spam or off-topic posts
  • Excessive self-promotion
  • Derailing discussions
  • Repeated posting of identical content
  • Sealioning (bad-faith questioning)
  • Coordinated disruption

4.3 Misinformation and Harm

  • Medical misinformation
  • Pseudoscience or discredited treatments
  • Unsubstantiated health claims
  • Encouraging dangerous practices
  • Giving medical advice outside scope
  • Dismissing evidence-based medicine
  • Anti-vaccination rhetoric or conspiracy theories

4.4 Professional Misconduct

  • Practising outside your scope
  • Misrepresenting credentials
  • Inappropriate client solicitation
  • Sharing employer proprietary information
  • Violating ethical codes
  • Impersonating other professionals
  • Academic dishonesty

4.5 Content Violations

  • Explicit or pornographic material
  • Violent or graphic content
  • Hate speech or extremist material
  • Illegal content
  • Copyright violations
  • Malicious links or malware

5. Community Spaces and Their Norms

5.1 Discussion Forums

Purpose: Professional discussion and course-related questions

Norms:

  • Use descriptive subject lines
  • Search before posting duplicates
  • Mark solved topics
  • Thank contributors
  • Share your own solutions
  • Stay organised and on-topic

5.2 Success Stories and Case Studies

  • Provide context and detail
  • Share wins and challenges
  • Anonymise patient information
  • Share measurable outcomes
  • Respond to follow-up questions

5.3 Resource Sharing

  • Explain why a resource is useful
  • Summarise key points
  • Ensure reputation and accuracy
  • Respect copyright
  • Disclose affiliations

5.4 Introduction and Networking

  • Share professional background
  • State your learning goals
  • Avoid pressuring for contact details
  • Keep interactions professional
  • Follow up respectfully

6. Moderation and Enforcement

6.1 Community Moderation

Moderators:

  • Monitor behaviour
  • Respond to reports
  • Enforce rules
  • Facilitate discussions
  • Model professionalism

6.2 Reporting Violations

How to Report:

Include:

  • Link to the content
  • Code section violated
  • Description of impact
  • Screenshots (if relevant)
  • Your contact details

6.3 Enforcement Actions

Level 1: Warning

  • Minor first violation
  • Private message with explanation

Level 2: Temporary Restriction

  • Repeated minor or moderate violations
  • Posting privileges limited for 7–30 days

Level 3: Suspension

  • Serious or repeated violations
  • 30–90 day account suspension

Level 4: Permanent Ban

  • Severe violations
  • Patient privacy breaches
  • Illegal content
  • Severe harassment or threats

Immediate Ban Applies To:

  • Identifiable patient information
  • Threats of violence
  • Illegal content
  • Severe harassment
  • Coordinated malicious activity

6.4 Appeals

Email: [email protected]
Submit within 14 days with relevant context and evidence.

7. Special Considerations

7.1 Disagreement and Debate

Healthy when:

  • Evidence-based
  • Respectful
  • Acknowledges limitations
  • Open-minded
  • Focuses on ideas

Not acceptable when:

  • Personal attacks occur
  • Evidence is ignored
  • Discussion becomes circular
  • Intent shifts to disruption

7.2 Sensitive Topics

  • Use content warnings when needed
  • Be especially respectful
  • Acknowledge diverse perspectives
  • Avoid triggering language
  • Focus on evidence

7.3 Conflicts of Interest

Disclose when:

  • Promoting products you profit from
  • Sharing resources tied to your business
  • You have financial interest

Format: “Disclosure: I am affiliated with [company/product]”

7.4 External Representation

  • Do not speak on behalf of the Academy
  • Separate personal views from course content
  • Do not misrepresent the Academy
  • Maintain professional standards

8. Cultural Competence and Inclusion

8.1 Global Community

  • Respect global differences
  • Avoid assuming your system is universal
  • Be curious about other contexts
  • Acknowledge jurisdiction-specific issues
  • Use inclusive language

8.2 Diversity and Inclusion

  • Welcome all backgrounds
  • Ensure diverse voices are heard
  • Challenge biases
  • Create space for underrepresented groups
  • Respect pronouns and identities

9. Self-Care and Boundaries

9.1 Healthy Engagement

  • Participation should be energising
  • Avoid compulsive checking
  • Take breaks when needed

9.2 Digital Wellbeing

  • Set boundaries
  • Manage notifications
  • Step back from unproductive conversations
  • Report trolls rather than engage

10. Continuous Improvement

10.1 Community Feedback

10.2 Regular Review

  • Annual updates
  • Post-incident review
  • Feedback-based updates
  • Best-practice alignment

11. Contact and Resources

11.1 Community Team

Email: [email protected]
Report violations using the “Report” button or via email
Appeals: [email protected]
Urgent issues: [email protected]
Phone: +44 7448 190917

11.2 Additional Resources

  • Professional ethics guidelines
  • HIPAA: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa
  • GDPR: https://gdpr.eu
  • Australian Privacy Principles
  • Digital citizenship tools

Acknowledgment: By participating in The Virtuoso Academy community, you agree to uphold this Code of Conduct.

Living Document: Suggest improvements at [email protected].

Last Reviewed: November 2025