• Guardian Angels are committed to the dying person, whether it concerns:

              1) the very end of life, or

              2) a traumatic passage requiring that one die to whom one is no longer.

• Loved ones may be involved in the process, but only to the extent that the dying person expressly and explicitly wishes it so.
• The Guardian Angels’ primary purpose is to preserve the dignity of the dying person.

• The person acting as a Guardian Angel presents themselves as competent within the limits of the techniques and knowledge acquired through training provided by the Guardian Angels Foundation.
• In cases where a Guardian Angel is also a recognized professional in another field, it is their duty to clarify the situation with the person being supported in respect to the role in which they are intervening. If they act solely as a Guardian Angel (volunteer or professional), they limit themselves to the paradigm of that function. Conversely, if they are present as a professional from a recognized field, their attributes as a Guardian Angel may complement their professional practice, as long as this is allowed within the parameters and regulations of their professional domain.
• The Guardian Angel uses only the techniques for which they have received training and supervision from qualified individuals in that area of practice.
• The Guardian Angel continually improves their skills through formal and informal training, as well as practical knowledge, in order to better support those at the end of life and those exposed to the end of life of others, including themselves.

• The Guardian Angel respects and protects the privacy of the person at the end of life as well as that of their loved ones, carefully safeguarding any documents containing personal or health-related information.
• The Guardian Angel maintains the confidentiality of all information shared by the person at the end of life or their loved ones, except when disclosure is necessary to prevent serious and imminent harm.
• The Guardian Angel does not disclose any confidential information without the express authorization of the person concerned or their legal representative, and, in such cases, only to a person, healthcare professional, or care organization designated by the person concerned or their legal representative. Whenever possible, the Guardian Angel informs the person concerned about the disclosure of such information and the potential consequences.
• The Guardian Angel explains to the person concerned and their loved ones the concept of confidentiality and the limits of this right.
• The Guardian Angel immediately informs the person concerned of any breach of confidentiality.

• The Guardian Angel must avoid any conflict of interest that could compromise their role of support and accompaniment in an impartial and non-judgmental manner toward the person at the end of life. Such conflicts may involve family members, loved ones, friends, professional or social relationships, or any other individuals involved in care.
• If the Guardian Angel, the person at the end of life, or the person’s legal representative believes that the Guardian Angel cannot maintain objectivity and professionalism, the situation must be addressed with the Guardian Angel’s supervisors to ensure the dignity and wishes of the person being cared for. This may require direct intervention by the Guardian Angel’s supervisor and could result in the Guardian Angel stepping down from their role.
• Under no circumstances should the Guardian Angel exploit the relationship with the patient and their loved ones to promote any personal, financial, religious, political, or professional interests.
• The Guardian Angel must not engage in multiple types of relationships with a patient or former patient. If such relationships are unavoidable, the Guardian Angel and their supervisor must establish clear, appropriate, and respectful boundaries that protect the integrity of the person being cared for.
• The Guardian Angel should avoid accepting friendship requests or maintaining personal relationships with patients on social media to prevent any confusion regarding the boundaries of the relationship, inappropriate behaviour, or any harm to the person being cared for.

• The Guardian Angel treats all individuals—beneficiaries, loved ones, caregivers, and colleagues—with respect.
• The Guardian Angel respects the dignity of every person, their opinions, care preferences, style of interaction with others, choices, as well as their ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, migratory status, lifestyle, and any physical or mental disabilities.
• The Guardian Angel avoids any negative criticism or remarks that could harm the integrity or well-being of those being supported.

• The Guardian Angel respects the role culture plays in the end of life process and its impact on the dying person’s vision of a “good death,” as well as the cultural needs of their loved ones.
• The Guardian Angel strives to gather information about the cultural orientation and needs of the dying person and their loved ones by tactfully asking them directly or consulting legitimately accessible sources of information.

• The Guardian Angel does not engage in any discrimination based on ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socio-economic status, or any other personal or social characteristic.
• The Guardian Angel does not tolerate any discrimination from colleagues and commits to reporting:

             1) any form of discrimination observed in their professional environment, or

             2) any situation contrary to the values of inclusion, respect, and equity.

• If a Guardian Angel observes incompetent or unethical behaviour by another Guardian Angel, a professional, or any other caregiver involved in the care of a person being cared for or their loved ones, they must take appropriate steps to report such behaviour.
• The Guardian Angel does not seek to protect the individual or professional from the consequences from that person’s alleged wrong doing.

• The Guardian Angel refrains from engaging in any intimate or sexual communications, insinuations, or activities with the person being cared for, their loved ones, or other healthcare professionals on the case during the period of accompaniment, even if consent were to be given.
• The Guardian Angel refrains from accompanying a patient with whom they have had a recent sexual relationship (within the past 12 months).
• The Guardian Angel refrains from engaging in sexual relationsships with family members or friends of a deceased person that was under their care during the mourning period following the death (12 month). After this period, the Guardian Angel is required to discuss the situation with a supervisor to assess the potential impact of this relationship on the grieving process and on their professional stance. .

• The Guardian Angel does not participate in acts of dishonesty, fraud, or deception, nor do they tolerate or turn a blind eye to such behaviours if they become aware of them. They report any situation of this nature in accordance with the ethical principles of the Foundation.

• The Guardian Angel shall, under no circumstances, solicit the dying person or their loved ones to offer services or products in exchange for any form of compensation, beyond their role and duties within the Gardien Angels Foundation or any other organization in which they act in such capacity.

• In order to preserve confidentiality, the dignity of the people cared for, and the integrity of the Foundation’s mission, the Guardian Angel refrains from any activity on social networks when acting as a Guardian Angel.
• The Guardian Angel refrains from using their title as Guardian Angel for advertising purposes without the Foundation’s consent.

The Guardian Angel upholds the values of excellence of the Foundation and their role, as well as the rights of people cared for and their loved ones, by maintaining the highest standards of practice.

• The Guardian Angel commits to embodying the spirit of this code and willfully acts with integrity and dedication toward others.

• The Guardian Angel who cares for someone, or their loved ones, will set their fees at a reasonable level in accordance with the rates generally practised by specialists in palliative care/end-of-life care, or any other similar service in their region.

• If the recipient of a service decides to end their interaction with a Guardian Angel, the Guardian Angel will offer to provide recommendations or useful information to help the recipient obtain the best suited assistance. The Guardian Angel will do this with tact, good-will and kindness.