OT ethics
The occupational therapy code of ethics is one of the most important aspects in the profession that guides practitioners and incorporates the standards of practice and responsibilities of occupational therapists.
Ethical considerations are a critical component of providing health care, as they help ensure clinicians treat their clients with respect and dignity and that the decisions made by healthcare professionals are just and fair.
The code of ethics for OT providers has been laid out by The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and is designed to reflect emerging technologies, the evolving health care environment and the dynamic nature of the industry= that can present potential ethical concerns in practice, research, education, and policy.
The occupational therapy code of ethics has 7 core values and 6 principles that guide decision-making. The values and principles can be found below.
What are the 7 codes of ethics for occupational therapy?
- Altruism: Refers to the caring of others that therapists convey via their commitment to the profession and individuals.
- Equality: All individuals have the same rights.
- Freedom: Each individual has the right to independence.
- Justice: Occupational therapists and occupational therapy personnel will provide occupational therapy services to those in need.
- Dignity: Involves valuing and respecting the individual and their cultural, social, and sexual differences as well as their life differences.
- Truth: Indicates the obligation of therapists to be truthful in all aspects of practice.
- Prudence: Refers to the ability to use clinical and ethical reasoning to make ethical decisions in practice.
What are the 6 principles of the occupational therapy code of ethics?
- Beneficence: Refers to benefiting others and contributing to the well-being and safety of individuals.
- Nonmaleficence: Refers to not harming individuals or doing no harm.
- Autonomy: Refers to respecting the rights of individuals to “self-determination, privacy, confidentiality, and consent.”
- Justice: Refers to promoting fair and inclusive treatment regardless of any attributes which may include “age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, origin, socioeconomic status, degree of ability, or any other status or attributes.”
- Veracity: Refers to providing and transmitting truthful information to individuals and the healthcare team.
- Fidelity: Refers to treating individuals, clients, and colleagues with integrity, and respect, and other professionals with respect, fairness, discretion, and integrity.”
Application of ethics in occupational therapy practice
The 7 core values and the 6 guiding principles help clinicians practice with high standards of care, promote client-centered care, ethical decision-making, confidentiality and privacy, cultural competence, and professional boundaries. It supports client-centered care by prioritizing the client's needs while respecting the client's autonomy.
The values and principles also promote confidentiality and privacy by therapists adhering to standards that protect client information via HIPAA and obtaining informed consent. Occupational therapists also are guided to respect for individuality and diverse populations. Ethical practices also guide professional boundaries by establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship.
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Ethical responsibilities in occupational therapy education and research
The code of ethics also applies to education and research in occupational therapy. Applying ethical principles to education and research allows for the safety of research participants, students, and the integrity of the profession. In research, informed consent is required before participating in research studies and participants are to understand the purpose and risks associated with the study.
Researchers also have a duty to protect participants' information. Furthermore, the 6 guiding principles of beneficence, non-maleficence (avoiding harm), autonomy, justice, veracity, and fidelity are all applied to participants and students to ensure that education and research are aligned with the overall goal of contributing to the advancement of occupational therapy practice and the overall health and well-being of individuals.
The code of ethics also guides the relationship between students, supervisors, and educators. Educators and supervisors are to support and promote a student’s educational and clinical knowledge and skills development by providing guidance that respects that student’s autonomy and dignity. Educators and supervisors also maintain the confidentiality of students, promote ethical decision-making skills, avoid conflicts of interest, and maintain a professional relationship and boundaries.
Ethical challenges and dilemmas in occupational therapy practice
Ethical challenges and dilemmas can occur in occupational therapy practice that result from a complex relationship between practitioners, clients, and other health-care professionals. According to the code of ethics conflicts between competing principles must be considered at times to make ethical decisions.
These principles need to be carefully balanced and weighed according to professional values, individual and cultural beliefs, and organizational policies. One area can include end-of-life care and advance directives.
Occupational therapists may play a role in end-of-life care and may have to navigate making difficult decisions while respecting the autonomy and dignity of the client, all while being supportive of family members.
In addition, conflicts of interest may also arise within the profession, and it is important to maintain appropriate boundaries with clients, family members, educators, and supervisors.
Resource allocation is another area where therapists may face ethical dilemmas due to limited resources, and the therapist must decide how to effectively allocate resources that prioritize the needs of various populations while advocating for social justice for the under-served.
Professional ethics and conduct
Compliance with professional standards and regulations and maintaining professional integrity and accountability are key to providing ethical, safe, and effective therapeutic services in the field. This involves maintaining professional licensure and certification to practice in the therapist’s jurisdiction effectively and ethically.
Compliance, professional integrity, and accountability include maintaining appropriate continuing education requirements, maintaining comprehensive documentation, taking accountability for one’s own actions, and being knowledgeable about their professional duties and scope of practice.
Ethics in interdisciplinary collaboration and team-based care
Ethical practices also play a vital role in team-based care and interdisciplinary collaboration. It guides practitioners to work together as a team while supporting the client’s needs. Ethics in team-based care involves cultural competence and respect for diverse cultures, engaging in shared decision-making via open and transparent communication and collaboration, addressing conflicts and utilizing conflict resolution strategies, and confidently sharing client information.
Overall, the occupational therapy code of ethics guides practitioners and incorporates the roles, standards of practice, and responsibilities of occupational therapists. It acts as a compass for therapists and helps ensure that therapists deliver the highest standard of care for their clients by providing client-centered care, adhering to compliance and regulation standards, and maintaining confidentiality, and professional boundaries. Staying up to date on the ethical principles and the code of ethics is significantly vital for maintaining integrity and competence within the field and providing the highest standard of care for clients.
Resources
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More resources
- Therapy resources and worksheets
- Therapy private practice courses
- Ultimate teletherapy ebook
- The Ultimate Insurance Billing Guide for Therapists
- The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Private Therapy Practice
- Mental health credentialing
- Insurance billing 101
- Practice management tools
- Behavioral Health tools
Free video classes
- Free on-demand insurance billing for therapist course
- Free mini video lessons to enhance your private practice
- 9 Admin tasks to automate in your private practice
References
- AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics. Am J Occup Ther November/December 2020, Vol. 74(Supplement_3), 7413410005p1–7413410005p13. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S3006
- Ethics in Health Care: Improving Patient Outcomes. School of Public Health. (2023, January 23). https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/ethics-in-healthcare/#:~:text=Ethics%20in%20health%20care%20is,professionals%20are%20fair%20and%20just .
- Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (2015).
