Ethics for Physical and Occupational Therapy Professionals (2023)

1. Foundations of Professional Ethics and Ethicolegal Duties

This section focuses on the modern-day blending of health law and professional ethics, as reflected by the mutual obligations imposed by professional association codes of ethics and state practice acts. Discussion of fiduciary duty and patient access to care services is also included.

2. Patient Autonomy

This section begins with a review of the four fundamental biomedical ethical principles guiding physical therapy practice: respect for patient autonomy over care-related decision-making, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Discussion naturally flows into exploration of patient-informed consent and the special informed consent issues affecting minors, incapacitated, and minimally-conscious patients. The discussion concludes with the issue of conflicts of interest and how ethically to avoid them.

3. Codes of Ethics and Core Values

This section provides an overview of the Codes of Ethics and core values for physical and occupational therapy professionals. It also includes discussion of problem-prone areas in health professional ethics affecting rehabilitation professionals.

4. Hypothetical Cases

This chapter includes hypothetical case presentations with relevant questions, addressing professional licensure, patient confidentiality, “hostile work environment,” sexual harassment, and respect for professional colleagues. It concludes with a discussion of the interface of health professional ethics and politics in the 21st century.

5. Malpractice and Adverse Actions for Patient Injuries and Ethics Violations

This section overviews health care malpractice and its relationship to breaches of ethical duties owed to patients under care, venues for processing adverse legal and ethics actions, and special duties owed to third parties incident to patient intervention. Discussion of reporting statutes—for child/spouse/elder abuse and neglect and other indicators—ensues.

6. Contractual Restrictive Employment Covenants: Ethicolegal Issues

This section overviews restrictive contractual covenants that physical therapists may encounter. Covenants not to compete are explored in detail, along with a case exemplar. Recommendations for inclusion of a no-covenant-not-to-compete ethics provision in professional association codes of ethics are presented.

7. HIPAA and Children, End-of-Session Cases

This section discusses the special privacy and information disclosure duties incumbent upon rehab professionals. A summary end-of-session case exemplar is presented along with concluding comments.

8. Ethical Guidelines for PTs, PTAs, OTs, and OTAs

This chapter provides commentary on the APTA and AOTA's updated codes of ethics and guides for professional conduct.