Skip to main content

Ethics-1-800x460.png

Ethicists Regina Doherty, OT, OTD, and Ruth Purtilo, PT, PhD, FAPTA, assert that health care professions are moral communities because they are a subgroup of society with a "professional morality [that] embraces moral values, duty, and character traits that do not apply equally or at all to others in society (Doherty, 2016)." Similarly, ethicist Laura Lee "Dolly" Swisher, PT, PhD, FAPTA, points out that there are no easy answers for the "wicked" ethical problems facing our profession and joins Purtilo in advocating for our professional moral community to be proactive in partnering with society (Swisher, 2022).

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.


Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.


You Might Also Like...

Article

APTA Offers Insights on the Strategic Implementation of AI in Health Care to HHS

Mar 18, 2026

In February, APTA submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in response to their Request for Information: Accelerating the

News

APTA's 'Founded by Women' Toolkit Celebrates Women's Impact on the Profession

Mar 9, 2026

In 1921, a visionary group of women founded APTA and set our profession on a bold, new course. Their pioneering leadership not only established the association

Article

Physical Therapy in the News: February 2026

Mar 4, 2026

"Physical Therapy in the News" is a monthly series that highlights recent media coverage of the profession and APTA members.