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Introduction
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) uses two key documents to serve as the moral compass for our profession. The first is the Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist, and the second is the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant.* These two documents were amended in July 2009, and will take effect July 1, 2010.
Over the next 8 weeks, I will introduce and discuss common ethical dilemmas that individuals in our profession are faced with, and attempt to demystify the subjective concept of ethics. The APTA’s Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist will be used as a framework for the discussion, as we examine each of the 8 principles individually, as well as the core values that are associated with each principle.
Principle 1
Physical therapists shall respect the inherent rights and dignity of all individuals.
Core Values: Compassion, Integrity
Principle 1 of the APTA’s Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist can be thought of as the “Non-Discrimination” statement for the Physical Therapy profession. It states that individuals in our profession will be compassionate and respectful of all persons regardless of age, race, gender, nationality, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, health condition, or disability.
As health care professionals, therapists interact with a variety of patients, and we must remain cognizant of the inherent differences of all individuals. However, we are merely human, and as humans, we all carry with us personal biases. Typically, the word “bias” carries with it a negative connotation, but that does not always have to be the case. We must first acknowledge and own the fact that we all have personal biases.
Next, we must determine the bases for the biases. Our brains attempt to make sense of the world and our surroundings, and in order to do so, it attempts to recognize patterns and compartmentalize specific situations. Typically, our biases are formed from our previous experiences. If exposed to a similar experience or situation, our brains will begin to recognize the “pattern”, which in turn causes us to react and behave in a similar fashion each time we are exposed to the situation.
The most important thing to remember as therapists is that we cannot let our personal biases interfere with our patient interaction or treatment. We have all been faced with the “problem patient”; the one that we see on our schedule that affects our mood for the entire day. In this instance, what we must remember is that every patient deserves the right to be treated with compassion and integrity, and as licensed healthcare professionals, it is our legal and ethical duty to uphold this principle.
Lastly, it is our professional obligation to make reasonable accommodations to a patient’s request. There are many instances in which a patient may ask to be seen by another therapist. This can be due to religious beliefs, gender specific preferences, personality differences, or a number of other issues. Something to remember about personal biases is that not only do we as therapists bring them into the treatment session, but so do our patients. Although we are able control our own biases to ensure they do not interfere with our treatment sessions, we have very limited, if any, control of our patients’ biases. It is of utmost importance that we make every attempt to accommodate our patients. Our goal as therapists should always be to have the patient’s best interest in mind, and to do everything possible to ensure that they are comfortable. If a patient asks to be seen by another therapist, we should not be offended or take it personally, because we never know what biases our patients bring to the (treatment) table.
Next week we will examine Principle 2 of the APTA’s Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist. For more information regarding Principle 1, please visit the APTA website at www.apta.org.
*Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist and Standard of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant are property of the American Physical Therapy Association. The American Physical Therapy Association holds all copyrights to both documents, and may not be copied and redistributed without the expressed written consent of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Michael B. Scates, PT, MS, DPT is the Founder, President, and CEO of Synergy Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Network Inc. Synergy specializes in continuing education and quality assurance for rehabilitation services, and is a recognized Continuing Competency Approval Agency and Provider for the Physical Therapy Board of California. Michael is also an Expert Consultant and Practice Monitor for the Physical Therapy Board of California. Michael can be reached at scates@synergyptrn.com or 877-600-6847
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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