Ethics and Jurisprudence for the Indiana Physical Therapy Professionals, 2nd Edition: Summary 3
Principle #4: Physical therapists shall demonstrate integrity in their relationships. • Provide truthful and accurate information • Avoid exploitation of supervisory relationships • Report misconduct and abuse • Maintain appropriate professional boundaries • Avoid harassment Principle #5: Physical therapists shall fulfill their legal and professional obligations. • Comply with applicable laws and regulations • Supervise physical therapist assistants and support personnel • Protect research participants • Address colleague impairment • Ensure continuity of care Principle #6: Physical therapists shall enhance their expertise through lifelong learning. • Maintain professional competence • Take responsibility for professional development • Evaluate evidence before integrating new techniques • Support professional development environments Principle #7: Physical therapists shall promote organizational behaviors and business practices that benefit patients/ clients and society. • Support autonomous and accountable professional judgments • Seek reasonable remuneration • Avoid conflicts of interest • Ensure accurate documentation and coding Principle #8: Physical therapists shall participate in efforts to meet health needs of people locally, nationally, or globally. • Provide pro bono services or support organizations that meet the health needs of people who are economically disadvantaged, uninsured, and underinsured • Advocate to reduce health disparities • Be responsible stewards of healthcare resources • Educate the public about physical therapy benefits Standards of Ethical Conduct for Physical Therapist Assistants The Standards of Ethical Conduct for Physical Therapist Assistants parallel the Code of Ethics for Physical Therapists but are tailored to the assistant's role. Key standards include: • Standard #1 : Respect the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals.
• Standard #2 : Be trustworthy and compassionate in addressing patient/client rights and needs. • Standard #3 : Make sound decisions in collaboration with the physical therapist within legal boundaries. • Standard #4 : Demonstrate integrity in relationships with patients, colleagues, and others. • Standard #5 : Fulfill legal and ethical obligations. • Standard #6 : Enhance competence through lifelong learning. • Standard #7 : Support organizational behaviors and business practices that benefit patients and society. • Standard #8 : Participate in efforts to meet health While sexual relationships between therapists and clients are prohibited, not all multiple and dual relationships are unethical. When identifying potential dual relationships, therapists should consider: • Whether the relationship could impair judgment or effectiveness in treatment • Potential loss of objectivity • Risk of exploitation or harm to the patient • Whether the relationship promotes patient health and welfare • Public perception of the relationship Ethical Decision Making: The RIPS Model The Realm-Individual Process-Situation (RIPS) Model of Ethical Decision Making includes: Components of RIPS: • Environmental context: Individual, organizational/ institutional, societal • Individual process: Ethical sensitivity, judgment, motivation, or courage • Situation: Ethical issue/problem, dilemma, distress, moral temptation Four Steps: 1. Recognize and define ethical issues : Examine facts and analyze the realm, individual process, and type of ethical situation. 2. Reflect : Interpret information, identify stakeholders, consider consequences, and apply relevant principles. 3. Decide the right thing to do : Resolve ethical dilemmas through rule-based, ends-based, or care- based approaches. 4. Implement, evaluate, reassess : Develop an implementation plan, evaluate outcomes, and reflect on professional growth. needs locally, nationally, or globally. Multiple and Dual Relationships
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