The National End-of-Life Doula Alliance supports end-of-life doulas (EOLD) by offering this Code of Ethics as a working guide to standards for appropriate behavior and practices in business and research. Our goal is to encourage EOLD practices that exhibit compassion, integrity, consistency, and competency across all platforms and approaches by providing clear ethical expectations of practicing end-of-life doulas.

DEFINITION
End-of-life doula (EOLD)--is a collective term NEDA uses to describe those who provide a broad range of holistic, non-medical support services to people who are preparing for or experiencing end of life. There is no all-inclusive or definitive list of ways that EOLDs engage in the practice. however many are described in the Doula Scope of Practice. While specific offerings vary by EOLD, services may include but are not limited to: education and guidance to the greater community and to individuals, emotional, spiritual and social care, and practical/logistical assistance before, duing, and after death. EOLDs complemEnt and supplement the work of family and other caregivers (including hospice providers) and others.

CODE OF ETHICS
NEDA, as a membership organization, provides the highest ethical standards to guide our members’ conduct. NEDA members agree to:

• act honestly, truthfully and with integrity in all their transactions and dealings;
• avoid conflicts of interest;
• appropriately handle actual or apparent conflicts of interest in their relationships;
• treat every individual with dignity and respect;
• honor confidentiality;
• deal fairly and with total transparency with money matters;
• comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law;
• act responsibly toward the communities in which they work and for the benefit of the communities that they serve;
• be responsible, transparent and accountable for all their actions.