Singapore legislation

Regulation 13

of Optometrists and Opticians (Practice, Conduct, Ethics and Publicity) Regulations

Regulation 13

General restrictions on publicity

Subregulation 1

No registered person shall publicise his opticianry or optometry practice or the practice of the opticianry or optometry business of which he is a partner, a director or an employee in a manner which —

(a)

is likely to diminish public confidence in the optometry or opticianry profession or to otherwise bring the optometry or opticianry profession into disrepute; or

(b)

may reasonably be regarded as being misleading, deceptive, inaccurate, false or unbefitting of the dignity of the optometry or opticianry profession.

Subregulation 2

A registered person shall not tout for business or do anything which is likely to lead to the reasonable inference that it is done for the purpose of touting.

Subregulation 3

For the purpose of paragraph (1)(b) —

(a)

publicity shall be considered to be misleading, deceptive, inaccurate or false if —

(i)

it contains a material misrepresentation;

(ii)

it omits to state a material fact;

(iii)

it contains any information which is exaggerated or cannot be verified; or

(iv)

it is likely to create an unjustified expectation about the services provided by the registered person or the practice of the opticianry or optometry business of which the registered person is a partner, a director or an employee; and

(b)

publicity shall be considered to be unbefitting of the dignity of the optometry and opticianry profession if —

(i)

it appeals to the fears or concerns of members of the public;

(ii)

it deprecates the skills, practices, products or services of other registered persons;

(iii)

it is offensive, ostentatious or in bad taste; or

(iv)

it contains any testimonial or endorsement of the services provided by a registered person, including the services of any employee of the optometry or opticianry business of which the registered person is a partner, a director or an employee.

Regulation 13 — Optometrists and Opticians (Practice, Conduct, Ethics and Publicity) Regulations