Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant
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 (APTA). The Guide provides guidelines by which physical
therapist assistants may determine the propriety 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 reflect
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 all situations
that a physical therapist assistant may encounter.
STANDARD 1
A physical therapist assistant shall respect the rights and
dignity of all individuals and shall provide compassionate care.
1.1 Attitude of a physical therapist assistant
A.A physical therapist assistant shall recognize,
respect and respond to individual and cultural difference with
compassion and sensitivity.
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,
abuse, or discriminate against others.
STANDARD 2
A physical therapist assistant shall act in a trustworthy manner
towards patients/clients.
2.1Trustworthiness
A.The physical therapist assistant shall always place
the patients/clients interest(s) above those of the physical therapist
assistant. 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 not exploit
any aspect of the physical therapist assistant – patient/client
relationship.
C.A physical therapist assistant shall clearly
identify him/herself as a physical therapist assistant to
patients/clients.
D.A physical therapist assistant shall conduct
him/herself in a manner that supports the physical therapist –
patient/client relationship.
E.A physical therapist assistant shall not engage in
any sexual relationship or activity, whether consensual 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. See Section 6.3
2.2Exploitation of Patients
A physical therapist assistant shall not participate
in any arrangements in which patients/clients are exploited. Such
arrangements include situations where referring sources enhance their
personal incomes by referring to or recommending physical therapy
services.
2.3Truthfulness
A.A physical therapist assistant shall not make
statements that he/she knows or should know are false, deceptive,
fraudulent, or misleading.
B.Although it cannot be considered unethical 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 with law and make full disclosure of his/her interest to
patients/clients.
2.4 Confidential Information
A.Information relating to the patient/client is
confidential and shall 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.
3.1Supervisory Relationship
A.A physical therapist assistant shall provide interventions only
under the supervision and direction of a physical therapist.
B.A physical therapist assistant shall provide only those
interventions that have been selected by the physical therapist.
C.A physical therapist assistant shall not provide any interventions
that are outside his/her education, training, experience, or skill, and
shall notify the responsible physical therapist of his/her inability to
carry out the intervention. See Sections 5.1 and 6.1B
D.A physical therapist assistant may modify 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 and
evaluations, determine diagnoses and prognoses, or establish or change 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 physical therapy.
4.1Supervision
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.
4.2Representation
A physical therapist assistant shall not hold him/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.
5.1Competence
A physical therapist assistant shall provide
interventions consistent with his/her level of education, training,
experience, and skill. See Sections 3.1C and 6.1 B
5.2Self-assessment
A physical therapist assistant shall engage in
self-assessment in order to maintain competence.
5.3Development
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 with their educational and legal
qualifications as a physical therapist assistant.
6.1 Patient Safety
A.A physical therapist assistant shall discontinue immediately any
interventions(s) that, in his/her judgment, may be harmful to the
patient/client and shall discuss his/her concerns with the physical
therapist.
B.A physical therapist assistant shall not provide any interventions
that are outside his/her education, training, experience, or skill and
shall notify the responsible physical therapist of his/her inability to
carry out the intervention. See Sections 3.1C and 5.1.
C.A physical therapist assistant shall not perform interventions
while his/her ability to do so safely is impaired.
6.2 Judgments of Patient/Client Status
If in the judgment of the physical therapist assistant, there is a
change in the patient/client status he/she shall report this to the
responsible physical therapist. See Section 3.1.
6.3Gifts and Other Considerations
A physical therapist assistant shall not invite, accept, or offer
gifts, monetary incentives or other consideration that affect or give an
appearance of affecting his/her provision of physical therapy
interventions. See Section 2.1F.
STANDARD 7
A physical therapist assistant shall protect the
public and the profession from unethical, incompetent, and illegal
acts.
7.1Consumer Protection
A physical therapist assistant shall report any
conduct that appears to be unethical or illegal.
7.2Organizational 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
American Physical Therapy Association
October 1981
Last Amended February 2004
[Last updated: 2/04 | Contact: ejc@apta.org]
| Recently, revised, Page, under, construction |
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