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Ethics for Physical Therapists and Assistants: Summary
Standards 1. Physical therapist assistants shall respect the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals 2. Physical therapist assistants shall be trustworthy and compassionate in addressing the rights and needs of patients/ clients 3. Physical therapist assistants shall make sound decisions in collaboration with the physical therapist and within the boundaries established by laws and regulations. Physical therapist assistants shall demonstrate integrity in their relationships with patients/ clients, families, colleagues, students, other healthcare providers, employers, payers, and the public 4. Physical therapist assistants shall fulfill their legal and ethical obligations 5. Physical therapist assistants shall enhance their competence through the lifelong acquisition and refinement of knowledge, skills, and abilities 6. Physical therapist assistants shall support organizational behaviors and business practices that benefit patients/clients and society 7. Physical therapist assistants shall participate in efforts to meet the health needs of people locally, nationally, or globally ETHICS ROADMAP LEARNING TIP! As a healthcare provider, a physical therapist is a fiduciary to their patients and is therefore required to place the patients’ best interests above all, including personal and organizational business interests. There are five sources of ethical obligations a PT must follow.
Five Hierarchal Sources of Ethical Obligations 1. Federal constitutional standards a. Example : First and Fourth Amendments (regarding patient privacy) 2. Federal treaty obligations a. Example : North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement—allows PTs to move between Canada, U.S., and Mexico to work 3. Statutes (federal and state) 4. Judicial case law decisions a. Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Dept. of Health (1990) 5. Administrative or regulatory laws a. Example: Federal regulation—the internal revenue code governing the payment of federal income taxes b. Example: State regulation—state a. Example: HIPAA is a federal privacy statute, whereas medical marijuana statutes are state-level statutes beneficentia, meaning “doing good.” PTs are charged to “do good” on behalf of their patients (i.e., act in the patients’ best interest) 2. Nonmaleficence —“do no harm.” Practically, this mean to do no malicious intentional harm to patients. This does not apply to discomfort that may be present with appropriate therapy interventions or evaluations 3. Patient autonomy —respecting patients’ fundamental right of self-determination over their bodies and what is done to them by others. This can be reflected in the concept of informed consent to interventions/ examinations 4. Justice —aspirations and endeavors in support of ensuring equal access to high- quality healthcare by all patients and clients, insurance commission rule requiring PTs to carry professional liability insurance Ethical Concepts 1. Beneficence —from the Latin word at an affordable cost. PTs and PTAs should advocate for and take necessary steps to ensure equality of access to services for patients
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