1. Purpose

Adverse-event reporting helps the Association identify safety concerns, improve standards and decide whether guidance, support, external referral or formal action may be needed. It is a safety-monitoring route, not a method for proving that IEMT caused an event.

2. What counts as an adverse event?

For this policy, an adverse event is an unintended harmful outcome, serious deterioration or significant safety concern occurring during or after IEMT-related work, whether the relationship to the technique is confirmed, possible, uncertain or disputed.

A near miss is an event that did not cause harm but could reasonably have done so. Near misses may also be reported when they reveal an important weakness in assessment, consent, technique, communication, equipment or procedure.

3. Events that should be reported

• death, life-threatening deterioration, emergency treatment, hospital attendance or serious injury occurring in connection with an IEMT service;
• significant or persistent psychological distress, loss of functioning or worsening that was unexpected or may be related to the work;
• new or concerning visual symptoms, eye pain, severe dizziness, neurological symptoms, collapse or physical injury during directed eye movements;
• acute panic, dissociation, disorientation, self-harm or suicide risk requiring urgent assessment or action;
• a serious consent, boundary, coercion, confidentiality or safeguarding concern arising within IEMT practice or training;
• use of a prohibited device or unsafe procedure, including strobe or flashing-light stimulation presented as IEMT;
• a significant error in client identification, instructions, records, referral or remote-session emergency planning; or
• a near miss or recurring pattern that may expose other people to harm.

4. Matters needing another route

Some matters may be reported here and through another route. Use the complaints page for dissatisfaction with service, conduct or advertising. Use the Safeguarding Policy where a child or adult at risk may require protection. A suspected crime, data breach, insurance matter, regulatory concern or workplace incident may require a direct report to the relevant authority or organisation.

5. Immediate responsibilities of a practitioner

• Stop the procedure and attend to immediate safety and medical needs.
• Use emergency, safeguarding or urgent healthcare routes where required.
• Communicate honestly under the Duty of Candour Policy.
• Create a factual contemporaneous record and preserve relevant messages, consent records and technical details.
• Arrange proportionate follow-up, referral or signposting without offering treatment outside competence.
• Notify an employer, insurer, regulator, safeguarding body or other authority when required.
• Report the event to the Association without avoidable delay.

6. Who may report?

A client, authorised representative, practitioner, trainer, supervisor, colleague, witness or other directly concerned person may submit a report. Anonymous information may be considered, although limited contact or evidence may restrict what can be clarified or acted upon.

7. What to include

• what happened, when and in what setting;
• the IEMT procedure, adaptation, equipment or instruction involved;
• the person’s response and the nature and duration of any harm or deterioration;
• immediate safety action, medical attention, referral or follow-up;
• whether emergency, safeguarding, police, insurer, employer or professional services were involved;
• relevant records or evidence, described factually; and
• what remains uncertain, including uncertainty about causation.

8. How the Association will use a report

The Association will triage the information according to seriousness, urgency, jurisdiction and its membership remit. It may:

• seek clarification or additional information;
• recommend immediate protective or professional action;
• refer the matter to safeguarding, police, regulatory or other appropriate bodies where lawful and necessary;
• link the report to a complaint or disciplinary process where conduct is at issue;
• identify technical, training or policy improvements; and
• review anonymised patterns across reports.

A report is not, by itself, proof that IEMT caused the event or that a member acted improperly. Safety monitoring should preserve uncertainty rather than forcing events into either a promotional or accusatory account.

9. Fairness, candour and non-retaliation

No client, practitioner, colleague or whistleblower should be disadvantaged for making a good-faith report or participating honestly in a review. Deliberately false information may be addressed separately, but uncertainty, an unsubstantiated concern or absence of proven causation is not the same as bad faith.