Boundaries within relationships between patients and their physical therapist or physical therapist assistant are important in supporting trust in therapeutic relationships. Clinicians are responsible for establishing, maintaining, and, if necessary, restoring professional boundaries. According to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, a PT or PTA, rather than a patient, is much more likely to cross professional and legal boundaries in clinical relationships. Yet, situations of unwanted attention and inappropriate sexual behaviors from patients occur in physical therapist practice.
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Ethics in Practice: #Boundaries: When Is the Line Being Crossed?
With social media, when does a professional relationship get too personal?
Date: August 1, 2023
Contact: aptamag@apta.org
Content Type: Column
Debra Gorman-Badar, PT, PhD, and Rebecca Edgeworth Ditwiler, PT, DPT
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