Advertising Guidelines
Osteopathic manual practitioners should ensure their advertising meets the following COMPO guidelines:
1. An advertisement must be accurate, factual and contain information that is verifiable. It should readily be comprehensible by the persons to whom it is directed.
2. An advertisement may:
(a) Name a specific service, osteopathy technique and/or product but cannot claim superiority or endorse the exclusive use of such services, techniques or products;
(b) Offer an initial complimentary consultation.
3. Any advertisement with respect to a osteopathic manual practitioner’s practice must not contain:
(a) Anything false or misleading;
(b) A guaranteed success of care or cure;
(c) Any comparison to another osteopathic manual practitioner’s or other health care provider’s practice, qualifications or expertise;
(d) Any expressed or implied endorsement or recommendation for the exclusive use of a product or brand of equipment used to provide services;
(e) Material that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.
4. A osteopathic manual practitioner may advertise his/her fee for manual osteopathy services provided:
(a) The advertisement contains accurate, complete and clear disclosure of what is and what is not included in the fee;
(b) There are no hidden fees/costs;
(c) The osteopathic manual practitioner does not bill a third-party payor such as extended health plan insurers for the complimentary portion of the osteopathic service;
(d) The advertisement expressly states the timeframe to be honoured for any complimentary or discounted osteopathic service;
(e) The advertisement does not limit the offer to a certain number of participants;
(f) No obligation is placed on the patient for follow-up appointments as a result of the complimentary or discounted osteopathic service;
(g) The advertisement is presented in a professional manner that maintains the dignity of the osteopathic manual osteopathy profession.