Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant.NOTE: At press time, this document was still being revised by the Ethics and Judicial Committee. For the most current version of this document, check www.apta.org/PT_practice/ethics_pt/affiliate_conduct. PURPOSE This Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant (Guide) is intended to serve physical therapist assistants in interpreting the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant (Standards) of the American Physical Therapy Association The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a national professional organization representing more than 66,000 members. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education. (APTA). The Guide provides guidelines guidelines, n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. by which physical therapist assistants may determine the propriety pro·pri·e·ty n. pl. pro·pri·e·ties 1. The quality of being proper; appropriateness. 2. Conformity to prevailing customs and usages. 3. proprieties The usages and customs of polite society. of their conduct. It is also intended to guide the development of physical therapist assistant students. The Standards and Guide apply to all physical therapist assistants. These guidelines are subject to change as the dynamics of the profession change and as new patterns of health care delivery, are developed and accepted by the professional community and the public. This Guide is subject to monitoring and timely revision by the Ethics and Judicial Committee of the Association. INTERPRETING STANDARDS The interpretations expressed in this Guide reject the opinions, decisions, and advice of the Ethics and Judicial Committee. These interpretations are intended to guide a physical therapist assistant in applying general ethical principles to specific situations. They should not be considered inclusive of inclusive of prep. Taking into consideration or account; including. all situations that could evolve. STANDARD 1 A physical therapist assistant shall respect the rights and dignity of all individuals and shall provide compassionate com·pas·sion·ate adj. 1. Feeling or showing compassion; sympathetic. See Synonyms at humane. 2. Granted to an individual because of an emergency or other unusual circumstances: care. 1.1 Attitude of a Physical Therapist Assistant A. A physical therapist assistant shall demonstrate sensitivity to individual and cultural differences. B. A physical therapist assistant shall be guided at all times by concern for the physical and psychological welfare of patients/clients. C. A physical therapist assistant shall not harass harass (either harris or huh-rass) v. systematic and/or continual unwanted and annoying pestering, which often includes threats and demands. This can include lewd or offensive remarks, sexual advances, threatening telephone calls from collection agencies, hassling by , abuse, or discriminate dis·crim·i·nate v. dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing, dis·crim·i·nates v.intr. 1. a. against others. STANDARD 2 A physical therapist assistant shall act in a trustworthy manner towards patients/clients. 2.1 Trustworthiness trustworthiness Ethics A principle in which a person both deserves the trust of others and does not violate that trust A. To act in a trustworthy manner a physical therapist assistant shall act in the patient's/client's best interest. Working in the patient's/client's best interest requires sensitivity to the patient's/client's vulnerability and an effective working relationship between the physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant. B. A physical therapist assistant shall act to ameliorate a·mel·io·rate tr. & intr.v. a·me·lio·rat·ed, a·me·lio·rat·ing, a·me·lio·rates To make or become better; improve. See Synonyms at improve. [Alteration of meliorate. the patient's/client's vulnerability, not to exploit it. C. A physical therapist assistant shall clearly identify himself/herself as a physical therapist assistant to patients/clients. D. A physical therapist assistant shall conduct himself/ herself in a manner that supports the physical therapist/patient relationship. E. A physical therapist assistant shall not engage in any sexual relationship or activity, whether consensual CONSENSUAL, civil law. This word is applied to designate one species of contract known in the civil laws; these contracts derive their name from the consent of the parties which is required in their formation, as they cannot exist without such consent. 2. or nonconsensual, with any patient/client entrusted to his/her care. F. A physical therapist assistant shall not invite, accept, or offer gifts or other considerations that affect or give an appearance of affecting his/her provision of physical therapy interventions. 2.2 Exploitation of Patients A physical therapist assistant shall not participate in any arrangements in which patients/clients ate exploited. Such arrangements include situations where referring sources enhance their personal incomes as a result of referring for, delegating, prescribing, or recommending physical therapy services. 2.3 Truthfulness A. A physical therapist assistant shall not make statements that he/she knows or should know are false, deceptive de·cep·tive adj. Deceptive or tending to deceive. de·cep  tive·ness n. , fraudulent The description of a willful act commenced with the Specific Intent to deceive or cheat, in order to cause some financial detriment to another and to engender personal financial gain. , or unfair.
B. Although it cannot be considered unethical unethical said of conduct not conforming with professional ethics. for a physical therapist assistant to own or have a financial interest in the production, sale, or distribution of products/services, he/she must act in accordance Accordance is Bible Study Software for Macintosh developed by OakTree Software, Inc.[] As well as a standalone program, it is the base software packaged by Zondervan in their Bible Study suites for Macintosh. with law and make full disclosure of his/her interest to patients/clients. 2.4 Confidential Information Noun 1. confidential information - an indication of potential opportunity; "he got a tip on the stock market"; "a good lead for a job" steer, tip, wind, hint, lead A. Information relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc the patient/client is confidential and may not be communicated to a third party not involved in that patient's/client's care without the prior consent of the patient/client, subject to applicable law. B. A physical therapist assistant shall refer all requests for release of confidential information to the supervising physical therapist. STANDARD 3 A physical therapist assistant shall provide selected physical therapy interventions only under the supervision and direction of a physical therapist. 3.1 Supervisory Relationship A. A physical therapist assistant shall provide services only under the supervision and direction of a physical therapist. B. A physical therapist assistant shall provide only those physical therapy interventions that have been selected by the physical therapist. C. A physical therapist assistant shall not carry out any selected physical therapy interventions that are outside his/her education, training, experience, or skill and shall notify the physical therapist. D. A physical therapist assistant may adjust specific interventions within the plan of care established by the physical therapist in response to changes in the patient's/client's status. E. A physical therapist assistant shall not perform examinations or evaluations, interpret data, determine diagnosis or prognosis prognosis /prog·no·sis/ (prog-no´sis) a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disorder.prognos´tic prog·no·sis n. pl. prog·no·ses 1. , or establish or alter a plan of care. F. Consistent with the physical therapist assistant's education, training, knowledge, and experience, he/she may respond to the patient's/client's inquiries regarding interventions that are within the established plan of care. G. A physical therapist assistant shall have regular and ongoing communication with the physical therapist regarding the patient's/client's status. STANDARD 4 A physical therapist assistant shall comply with laws and regulations governing gov·ern v. gov·erned, gov·ern·ing, gov·erns v.tr. 1. To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; exercise sovereign authority in. 2. physical therapy. 4.1 Supervision A physical therapist assistant shall know and comply with applicable law. Regardless of the content of any law, a physical therapist assistant shall provide services only under the supervision and direction of a physical therapist. 4.2 Representation A physical therapist assistant shall not hold himself/ herself out as a physical therapist. STANDARD 5 A physical therapist assistant shall achieve and maintain competence in the provision of selected physical therapy interventions. 5.1 Competence A physical therapist assistant shall provide interventions consistent with his/her level of education, training, experience, and skill. 5.2 Self-assessment A physical therapist assistant shall engage in self-assessment in order to maintain competence. 5.3 Development A physical therapist assistant shall participate in educational activities that enhance his/her basic knowledge and skills. STANDARD 6 A physical therapist assistant shall make judgments that are commensurate com·men·su·rate adj. 1. Of the same size, extent, or duration as another. 2. Corresponding in size or degree; proportionate: a salary commensurate with my performance. 3. with his/her educational and legal qualifications as a physical therapist assistant. 6.1 Patient Safety A. A physical therapist assistant shall discontinue dis·con·tin·ue v. dis·con·tin·ued, dis·con·tin·u·ing, dis·con·tin·ues v.tr. 1. To stop doing or providing (something); end or abandon: immediately any components of interventions that, in his/her judgment, appear to be harmful to the patient/client and shall discuss his/her concerns with the physical therapist. B. A physical therapist assistant shall not carry out any selected physical therapy interventions that are outside his/her education, training, experience, or skill mad shall notify the physical therapist. C. A physical therapist assistant shall not perform interventions while his/her ability to do so safely is impaired. 6.2 Patient Status Judgments A physical therapist assistant participates in patient/ client stares judgments by reporting changes to the physical therapist and requesting patient/client reexamination re·ex·am·ine also re-ex·am·ine tr.v. re·ex·am·ined, re·ex·am·in·ing, re·ex·am·ines 1. To examine again or anew; review. 2. Law To question (a witness) again after cross-examination. or revision of the plan of care. See Section 3.1. 6.3 Gifts and Other Considerations A physical therapist assistant shall not invite, accept, or offer gifts or other considerations thai affect or give the appearance of affecting his/her provision of physical therapy interventions or thai exploit the patient/client in any way. See Section 2.1.B. STANDARD 7 A physical therapist assistant shall protect the public and the profession from unethical, incompetent incompetent adj. 1) referring to a person who is not able to manage his/her affairs due to mental deficiency (lack of I.Q., deterioration, illness or psychosis) or sometimes physical disability. , and illegal acts. 7.1 Consumer Protection A physical therapist assistant shall report any conduct that appears to be unethical or illegal. 7.2 Organizational Employment A. A physical therapist assistant shall inform his/her employer(s) and/or appropriate physical therapist of any employer practice that causes him or her to be in conflict with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant. B. A physical therapist assistant shall not engage in any activity that puts him or her in conflict with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant, regardless of directives from a physical therapist or employer. Issued by Ethics and Judicial Committee, APTA, October 1981 Last Amended a·mend v. a·mend·ed, a·mend·ing, a·mends v.tr. 1. To change for the better; improve: amended the earlier proposal so as to make it more comprehensive. 2. July 2001 NOTE: The most current version of this document can be found at www.apta.org/PT_Practice/ethics_pt/affillate_conduct. |
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