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Ethics for Physical Therapists and Assistants: Summary
Personal Values Outside of the seven core values set by the APTA for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants, many individuals have their own core values as well that contribute to and play a role in
• Staying focused under stress • Team play • Truthfulness Conclusion
Legal duties are defined by the Constitution, international treaties, federal and state statutory laws, judge-made case law, and administrative agency rules and regulations. Ethical duties are grounded in the four foundational biomedical ethical principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for patient autonomy, and the quest for justice in healthcare delivery. These are further augmented by the core values at individual, organization, system, or association levels. Legal and ethical duties are blended into a standard of conduct for health professionals. Slight variations exist across the country due to variations in state licensing laws.
their care toward patients. Common values include: • Accountability • Advocacy • Altruism • Autonomy • Compassion • Empathy • Fiduciary duty • Lifelong learning • Loyalty • Patience • Social responsibility
Case Study 1 A is a physical therapist in a solo private practice. B is A’s part-time staff physical therapist assistant. C is a patient referred by Dr. D for sharp debridement of a necrotic diabetic right foot ulcer. A is relatively unfamiliar with sharp debridement, but B has had substantial wound care experience. Is it appropriate for A to delegate C’s wound care to B? Commentary : A may be violating Principles 3B, 3C, and 3E by delegating advanced clinical care activities to B, for which A has insufficient practice experience and expertise to supervise. Case Study 2 E is a 20-year-old male physical therapy aide employed at ABC Hospital. F is a 19-year-old female inpatient who is receiving inpatient physical therapy services. In part to increase nonoperational revenue, ABC has a program in place to provide gourmet meals to inpatients and guests during dinner hours for a moderate fee. F invites E to join her in her hospital room this evening for a dinner-date. E shares this information with G, a supervising physical therapist assistant in the clinic. How should G respond? Commentary : G should inform E that his prospective conduct constitutes an impermissible conflict of interest. As a physical therapy aide, E is not subject to the requirements of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist or Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant. G, however, is subject to professional ethical standards as a physical therapist assistant. If E does not heed G’s admonition, then pursuant to Standards 4C (misconduct) and 4D (vulnerable adult), G must report E’s prospective misconduct to the supervising physical therapist and/or other relevant authority. E’s conduct may also constitute an express violation of ABC’s organizational ethics standards for employees, making its prohibition more straightforward.
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