FOR YOUR INFORMATION...........................DECEMBER 28, 1992
The Federal Trade Commission's proposed consent agreement
with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) appears in
the Dec. 24 Federal Register. It will be subject to public
comment for 60 days, until Feb. 22, 1993.
The agreement would settle FTC charges that NASW restrained
competition among social workers in the United States by
restricting its members from engaging in non-deceptive
solicitation and advertising practices, except to the extent
necessary to protect vulnerable patients.
The agreement would prohibit NASW from banning truthful,
non-deceptive advertising by its members -- specifically, it
would prohibit restrictions against testimonials from clients or
other consumers. The agreement also would bar restrictions
against the solicitation of the actual or prospective clients of
another professional. NASW would be permitted, however, to adopt
and enforce guidelines to prevent social workers from soliciting
business or testimonials from those who could be vulnerable to
the undue influence of a social worker, and to ban solicitations
of testimonials from current psychotherapy patients. The
agreement would permit NASW to adopt and enforce guidelines to
ban in-person solicitations of those who could be vulnerable to
undue influence.
In addition, the proposed consent agreement would prohibit
restrictions on payments to patient-referral services, although
it would allow NASW to require disclosure of such fees to
consumers.
Comments on the proposed consent agreement should be
addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th Street and
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.
NOTE: A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and
does not constitute an admission of a law violation. After the
Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries
the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation
of such an order may result in a civil penalty of $10,000.
- more -
(NASW-FR--12/28/92)
A news release announcing the proposed consent agreement and
summarizing its provisions was issued Dec. 15. Copies of that
news release and of the proposed consent agreement itself are
available from the above address; 202-326-2222; TTY 1-866-653-4261.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT: Howard Shapiro, Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2176
STAFF CONTACT: Robert J. Schroeder, Seattle Regional Office
2806 Federal Building, 915 Second Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98174
206-553-4656
(FTC Matter No. 861 0126)
(nasw-FR)