Professional conduct

Core values of professionalism

1. Accountability

2. Altruism

3. Compassion/ caring

4. Excellence

5. Integrity

6. Professional duty

7. Social responsibility

Accountability

active acceptance of responsibility for diverse roles, obligations and actions of the PT/PTA

What accountability includes

1. Self-regulation

2. Other behaviors that positively influence patient/ client outcomes, profession, and health needs of society

Accountability examples

1. Responding to patient goals/ needs

2. Adhering to code of ethics

3. Communicating accurately to others

4. Seeking and responding to feedback

5. Membership in APTA

Altruism

Primary regard for or devotion to the interest of patient/ client, thus assuming fiduciary responsibility of placing the needs of the patient ahead of the PTA's self interest

Altruism examples

1. Placing patient needs above therapists

2. Providing pro-bono services

3. Provide services to underserved and underrepresented populations

4. Providing services that go beyond expected standards of practice

Compassion

1. desire to identify with or sense something of another's experience

2. Precursor of caring

Caring

concern, empathy, and consideration for needs and values of others

Compassion/ caring examples

1. Understanding an individuals perspective

2. Being advocate for patient

3. Focusing on achieving greats well-being for patient

4. Recognizing and refraining from acting on one's social, cultural, gender and sexual biases

Excellence

PT that consistently uses current knowledge and theory while understanding personal limits

2. Integrates judgement and the patient perspective

3. Embraces advancement

4. Challenges mediocrity

5. Works toward development of new knowledge

Excellence examples

1. Using multiple sources of evidence to support professional decisions

2. Demonstrating high levels of knowledge and skill in all aspects of profession

3. Sharing one's knowledge with others

4. Demonstrating investment in the profession of PT

Integrity

Steadfast adherence to high ethical principles or professional standards

Integrity examples

1. Abiding by rules, regulations and laws applicable to profession

2. Using power judiciously

3. Knowing one's limitations and acting accordingly

4. Choosing employment situations that are congruent with practice values and professional ethical standards

Professional duty

1. commitment to meeting one's obligations to provide effective physical therapy services to individual patients

2. To serve the profession

3. To positively influence health of society

Social responsibility

Promotion of mutual trust between profession and public that necessitates responding to societal needs for health and wellness

Purpose of guide for professional conduct

1. Helps to interpret code of ethics

2. Guide to determine propriety of conduct

3. Assist with development of PTA students

4. Applies to ALL PTA

Interpretations

1. Reflect opinions, decisions, and advice of the ethics and judicial committee of the PTA

2. PTA should be able to apply ethics to specific situations

Standard 1

1. PTA shall respect the rights of all individuals

2. Shall provide compassionate care

Standard 2

1. PTA shall act in a trustworthy manner towards patients

2. PTA shall not participate in any arrangements in which patients are exploited

3. Truthfulness

4. Confidential information

Standard 3

PTA shall provide selected PT interventions only under supervision and direction of PT

Standard 4

PTA shall comply with laws and regulations governing PT

Standard 5

PTA shall achieve and maintain competence in provision of selected PT interventions

Standard 6

PTA shall make judgements that are commensurate with their educational and legal qualifications as a PTA

Standard 7

PTA shall protect the public and profession from unethical, incompetent, and illegal acts