Professional Ethics

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Standards of behavior and values that guide the conduct of physical therapist practice.

Code of Ethics: The guiding principles that outline the responsibilities and ethical behavior expected of physical therapists.
Scope of Practice: The defined responsibilities, duties, and limitations of physical therapists in practicing their profession.
Patient Rights and Consent: The ethical principles of patient autonomy and informed consent in physical therapy treatment.
Confidentiality and Privacy: The ethical and legal principles of protecting patient information and maintaining confidentiality and privacy.
Conflict of Interest: The ethical issues related to situations where a physical therapist's personal interests may conflict with patient care or professional obligations.
Professional Boundaries: The ethical and professional considerations of maintaining appropriate relationships with patients, caregivers, and colleagues in physical therapy settings.
Cultural Competence: The ethical and professional responsibility of working effectively with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and practices.
Professional Communication: The ethical and effective communication with patients, caregivers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals in physical therapy practice.
Professional Development: The ethical and professional commitment to ongoing learning, education, and development to enhance the quality of patient care.
Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-Making: The ethical principles and frameworks used to resolve conflicts and make good decisions in morally challenging situations in physical therapy practice.
Autonomy: This type of professional ethics emphasizes the patient's right to self-determination and decision-making regarding their own healthcare.
Beneficence: This principle refers to the duty of healthcare professionals to act in the best interest of their patients and provide treatment that benefits them.
Non-maleficence: This principle emphasizes the importance of not causing harm to patients, both physically and mentally.
Justice: This type of professional ethics is concerned with fairness and equality in the distribution of healthcare resources and services.
Fidelity: This principle emphasizes the importance of healthcare professionals to keep their promises and maintain trust with their patients.
Veracity: This principle emphasizes the importance of healthcare professionals to be truthful to their patients and provide accurate information about their healthcare.
Confidentiality: This principle emphasizes the importance of protecting the privacy of patient information and only sharing it with those who have a legitimate reason to know.
Competence: This principle emphasizes the importance of healthcare professionals to maintain their knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality healthcare to patients.
Professionalism: This principle focuses on maintaining the high standards of conduct and behavior expected of healthcare professionals.
Respect: This principle emphasizes the importance of healthcare professionals to show respect and dignity towards their patients, regardless of their beliefs, values, or lifestyles.
"Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions."
"They promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient education, physical intervention, rehabilitation, disease prevention, and health promotion."
"Physical therapists are known as physiotherapists in many countries."
"The career has many specialties including musculoskeletal, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, neurology, endocrinology, sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, wound care, and electromyography."
"PTs practice in many settings, both public and private."
"Other aspects of physical therapist practice include research, education, consultation, and health administration."
"Physical therapy is provided as a primary care treatment or alongside, or in conjunction with, other medical services."
"In some jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, physical therapists have the authority to prescribe medication."
"Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions."
"They promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient education, physical intervention, rehabilitation, disease prevention, and health promotion."
"The career has many specialties including musculoskeletal, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, neurology, endocrinology, sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, wound care, and electromyography."
"PTs practice in many settings, both public and private."
"Other aspects of physical therapist practice include research, education, consultation, and health administration."
"Physical therapy is provided as a primary care treatment or alongside, or in conjunction with, other medical services."
"In some jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, physical therapists have the authority to prescribe medication."
"The career has many specialties including musculoskeletal, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, neurology, endocrinology, sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, wound care, and electromyography."
"They promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient education, physical intervention, rehabilitation, disease prevention, and health promotion."
"PTs practice in many settings, both public and private."
"Other aspects of physical therapist practice include research, education, consultation, and health administration."
"Physical therapy is provided as a primary care treatment or alongside, or in conjunction with, other medical services."