Blog Post 7: General Ethics

Post an ethical code/statement for your career field of interest that has been developed by a professional organization in your field.

Preamble

The Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist (Code of Ethics) delineates the ethical obligations of all physical therapists as determined by

the House of Delegates of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The purposes of this Code of Ethics are to:

1. Define the ethical principles that form the foundation of physical therapist practice in patient/client management, consultation, education, research, and administration.

2. Provide standards of behavior and performance that form the basis of professional accountability to the public.

3. Provide guidance for physical therapists facing ethical challenges, regardless of their professional roles and responsibilities.

4. Educate physical therapists, students, other health care professionals, regulators, and the public regarding the core values, ethical principles, and standards that guide the professional conduct of the physical therapist.

5. Establish the standards by which the American Physical Therapy Association can determine if a physical therapist has engaged in unethical conduct.

No code of ethics is exhaustive nor can it address every situation. Physical therapists are encouraged to seek additional advice or consultation in instances where the guidance of the Code of Ethics may not be definitive.

This Code of Ethics is built upon the five roles of the physical therapist (management of patients/clients, consultation, education, research, and administration), the core values of the profession, and the multiple realms of ethical action (individual, organizational, and societal). Physical therapist practice is guided by a set of seven core values: accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility. Throughout the document the primary core values that support specific principles are indicated in parentheses. Unless a specific role is indicated in the principle, the duties and obligations being delineated pertain to the five roles of the physical therapist. Fundamental to the Code of Ethics is the special obligation of physical therapists to empower, educate, and enable those with impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and disabilities to facilitate greater independence, health, wellness, and enhanced quality of life.

Principle #1: Physical therapists shall respect the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals.

Principle #2: Physical therapists shall be trustworthy and comapssionate in addressing the rights and need of patients/clients.

Principle #3: Physical therapists shall be accountable for making sound professional judgments.

Principle #4: Physical therapists shall demonstrate integrity in their relationships with patients/clients, families, colleagues, students, research participants, other health care providers, employers, payers, and the public.

Principal #5- Physical therapists shall fulfill their legal and professional obligations

Principle #6- Physical therapists shall enhance their expertise though the lifelong acquisition and refinement of knowledge, skills, abilities, and professional behaviors.

Principle #7- Physical therapists shall promote orgasnizational behaviors and buisness practices that benefit patients/clients and society.

Principle #8- Physical therapists shall participate in efforts to meet the health needs of people locally, nationally, or globally.

http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/About_Us/Policies/HOD/Ethics/CodeofEthics.pdf

Post this code/statement for the following countries: USA, India, China, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Isreal

-So the one for the USA is listed above but as for the rest of the countries there is this site:

http://www.wcpt.org/policy/ps-ethical-responsibilities

Ethical principle 1

Physical therapists respect the rights and dignity of all individuals.
Everyone who seeks the services of a physical therapist has the right to service regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, religion, ethnic origin, creed, colour, sexual orientation, disability, health status or politics.
Physical therapists should assure that patients/clients have the right to:

• the highest quality physical therapy services
• information about the physical therapy services
• make an informed consent
• confidentiality
• have access to their physical therapy data
• health education and health promotion services
• choose who should be informed on his/her behalf

Ethical principle 2

Physical therapists comply with the laws and regulations governing the practice of physical therapy in the country in which they practise.
Physical therapists will have a full understanding of the laws and regulations governing the practice of physical therapy. They have the right to refuse to treat or otherwise intervene when, in their opinion, the service is not in the best interests of the patient/client.
Physical therapists have the right to advocate for patient/client access to physical therapist services when, in their opinion, there is restricted access to those who have the capacity to benefit.

Ethical principle 3

Physical therapists accept responsibility for the exercise of sound judgement.
Physical therapists are professionally independent and autonomous practitioners. They make independent judgements in the provision of services for which they have knowledge and skills.
With each patient/client, physical therapists undertake appropriate examination/assessment to allow the development of a diagnosis. In light of the diagnosis and other relevant information about the patient/client and their goals, physical therapists determine the prognosis/plan of care and implement the interventions/treatment. When the goals have been achieved or further benefits can no longer be obtained, the physical therapist shall inform and discharge the patient/client. When the diagnosis is not clear or the required intervention/treatment is not within the realm of physical therapist practice, the physical therapist shall inform the patient/client and facilitate a referral to other professionals.
Physical therapists shall not delegate to another health professional or support worker any activity that requires the unique skill, knowledge and judgement of the physical therapist.
If the patient/client has been referred to the physical therapist by a medical practitioner and the treatment programme prescribed is not appropriate in the judgement of the physical therapist, then the physical therapist should consult with the referring medical practitioner.
Physical therapists have the right to expect co-operation from their colleagues.

Ethical principle 4

Physical therapists provide honest, competent and accountable professional services.
Physical therapists shall:

• ensure that their behaviour and conduct is professional at all times
• deliver timely, patient/client-specific physical therapy intervention/treatment in line with the individual’s goals
• ensure that patients/clients understand the nature of the service being provided, especially the anticipated costs (both time and financial)
• undertake a continuous, planned, personal development programme designed to maintain and enhance professional knowledge and skills
• maintain appropriate patient/client records to allow effective evaluation of the patient’s/client's care and evaluation of the physical therapist's practice
• not disclose any information about a patient/client to a third party without the patient’s/client's permission or prior knowledge, unless such disclosure is required by law
• participate in peer review and other forms of practice evaluation, the results of which shall not be disclosed to another party without the permission of the physical therapist
• maintain data to facilitate service performance measurement and make that data available to other agents as required by mutual agreement
• not allow their services to be misused

The ethical principles governing the practice of physical therapy shall take precedence over any business or employment practice. Where such conflict arises, the physical therapist shall make all efforts to rectify the matter, seeking the assistance of the national physical therapy association if required.

Ethical principle 5

Physical therapists are committed to providing quality services.
Physical therapists shall:

• be aware of the currently accepted standards of practice and undertake activities which measure their conformity
• participate in continuing professional development to enhance their basic knowledge and to provide new knowledge
• support research that contributes to improved patient/client interventions and service delivery
• keep up to date with the best evidence available and implement it in their practice
• support quality education in academic and clinical settings

Physical therapists engaged in research shall ensure that they:

• abide by all current rules and policies applying to the conduct of research on human subjects
• have obtained subjects’ consent
• protect subjects’ confidentiality
• protect subjects’ safety and well-being
• do not engage in fraud or plagiarism
• fully disclose any research support and appropriately acknowledge any assistance
• report any breaches of the rules to appropriate authorities
• freely share the results of their research, especially in journals and conference presentations

Physical therapists in the role of employer shall:

• ensure all employees are properly and duly qualified, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements
• apply current management principles and practices to the conduct of the service, with particular attention to appropriate standards of personnel management
• ensure policies and procedures are properly developed, implemented and monitored
• ensure that clinical practice is appropriately evaluated and audited
• provide adequate opportunities for staff education and personal development based on effective performance appraisal

Ethical principle 6

Physical therapists are entitled to a just and fair level of remuneration for their services.
Physical therapists shall:

• ensure that their fee schedules are based on prevailing market conditions
• ensure that fees charged offer value for money
• ensure as much as possible that reimbursement from third-party funders are reflective of and consistent with good practice (third-party funders should not seek to exert control in any way that restricts the scope of practice of physical therapists or inhibits their right to fair remuneration)
• ensure that influence is not used for personal gain
• ensure that sound business principles are applied when dealing with suppliers, manufacturers and other agents

Ethical principle 7

Physical therapists provide accurate information to patients/clients, other agencies and the community about physical therapy and about the services physical therapists provide.
Physical therapists:

• shall participate in public education programmes, providing information about the profession
• shall inform the public and referring professionals truthfully about the nature of their service so that individuals are more able to make a decision about the use of the service
• may advertise their services
• shall not use false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, unfair or sensational statements or claims
• shall claim only those titles which correctly describe their professional status

Ethical principle 8

Physical therapists contribute to the planning and development of services that address the health needs of the community.
Physical therapists have a duty and obligation to participate in planning services designed to provide optimum community health.
Physical therapists are obliged to work toward achieving justice in the provision of health services for all people