Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist
HOD S06-09-07-12 [Amended HOD S06-00-12-23; HOD 06-91-05-05;HOD 06-87-11-17;
HOD 06-81-06-18; HOD 06-78-06-08; HOD 06-78-06-07; HOD 06-77-18-30; HOD 06-77-17-27;
Initial HOD 06-73-13-24] [Standard]

Preamble

The Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist (Code of Ethics) delineates the ethical obligations of all physical therapists as determined by
the House of Delegates of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The purposes of this Code of Ethics are to:
1. Define the ethical principles that form the foundation of physical therapist practice in patient/client management, consultation, education, research, and administration.
2. Provide standards of behavior and performance that form the basis of professional accountability to the public.
3. Provide guidance for physical therapists facing ethical challenges, regardless of their professional roles and responsibilities.
4. Educate physical therapists, students, other health care professionals, regulators, and the public regarding the core values, ethical principles, and standards that guide the professional conduct of the physical therapist.
5. Establish the standards by which the American Physical Therapy Association can determine if a physical therapist has engaged inunethical conduct.
No code of ethics is exhaustive nor can it address every situation. Physical therapists are encouraged to seek additional advice or consultation in instances where the guidance of the Code of Ethics may not be definitive.
This Code of Ethics is built upon the five roles of the physical therapist (management of patients/clients, consultation, education, research,and administration), the core values of the profession, and the multiple realms of ethical action (individual, organizational, and societal).
Physical therapist practice is guided by a set of seven core values: accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility. Throughout the document the primary core values that support specific principles are indicated inparentheses. Unless a specific role is indicated in the principle, the duties and obligations being delineated pertain to the five roles of thephysical therapist. Fundamental to the Code of Ethics is the special obligation of physical therapists to empower, educate, and enable thosewith impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and disabilities to facilitate greater independence, health, wellness, andenhanced quality of life.

Principles
Principle #1: Physical therapists shall respect theinherent dignity and rights of all individuals.
(Core Values: Compassion, Integrity)

1A. Physical therapists shall act in a respectful manner toward
each person regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, social or economic status, sexual orientation,health condition, or disability.
1B. Physical therapists shall recognize their personal biases andshall not discriminate against others in physical therapist practice, consultation, education, research, and administration.

Principle #2: Physical therapists shall be trustworthy
and compassionate in addressing the rights andneeds of patients/clients.
(Core Values: Altruism, Compassion, ProfessionalDuty)

2A. Physical therapists shall adhere to the core values of the profession and shall act in the best interests of patients/clientsover the interests of the physical therapist.
2B. Physical therapists shall provide physical therapy services
with compassionate and caring behaviors that incorporate
the individual and cultural differences of patients/clients.
2C. Physical therapists shall provide the information necessary
to allow patients or their surrogates to make informed decisions about physical therapy care or participation in clinicalresearch.

2D. Physical therapists shall collaborate with patients/clients toempower them in decisions about their health care.
2E. Physical therapists shall protect confidential patient/client information and may disclose confidential information to appropriate authorities only when allowed or asrequired by law.

Principle #3: Physical therapists shall be accountable
for making sound professional judgments.
(Core Values: Excellence, Integrity)

3A. Physical therapists shall demonstrate independent and objective professional judgment in the patient’s/client’s best interestin all practice settings.
3B. Physical therapists shall demonstrate professional judgment
informed by professional standards, evidence (including
current literature and established best practice), practitioner
experience, and patient/client values.
3C. Physical therapists shall make judgments within their scopeof practice and level of expertise and shall communicate with,collaborate with, or refer to peers or other health care professionals when necessary.
3D. Physical therapists shall not engage in conflicts of interest thatinterfere with professional judgment.
3E. Physical therapists shall provide appropriate direction of andcommunication with physical therapist assistants and support
personnel.

Principle #4: Physical therapists shall demonstrateintegrity in their relationships with patients/clients,
families, colleagues, students, research participants, other health care providers, employers,payers, and the public.
(Core Value: Integrity)

4A. Physical therapists shall provide truthful, accurate, and relevant information and shall not make misleading representations.
4B. Physical therapists shall not exploit persons over whomthey have supervisory, evaluative or other authority (eg,patients/clients, students, supervisees, research participants,
or employees).
4C. Physical therapists shall discourage misconduct by healthcare professionals and report illegal or unethical acts to therelevant authority, when appropriate.
4D. Physical therapists shall report suspected cases of abuse
involving children or vulnerable adults to the appropriate
authority, subject to law.
4E. Physical therapists shall not engage in any sexual relationship with any of their patients/clients, supervisees, orstudents.
4F. Physical therapists shall not harass anyone verbally, physically, emotionally, or sexually.

Principle #5: Physical therapists shall fulfill theirlegal and professional obligations.
(Core Values: Professional Duty, Accountability)

5A. Physical therapists shall comply with applicable local, state,
and federal laws and regulations.
5B. Physical therapists shall have primary responsibility forsupervision of physical therapist assistants and support
personnel.
5C. Physical therapists involved in research shall abide byaccepted standards governing protection of research
participants.
5D. Physical therapists shall encourage colleagues with physical,psychological, or substance-related impairments that may
adversely impact their professional responsibilities to seek
assistance or counsel.
5E. Physical therapists who have knowledge that a colleague isunable to perform their professional responsibilities withreasonable skill and safety shall report this information to
the appropriate authority.
5F. Physical therapists shall provide notice and information
about alternatives for obtaining care in the event the physical therapist terminates the provider relationship while thepatient/client continues to need physical therapy services.

Principle #6: Physical therapists shall enhance theirexpertise through the lifelong acquisition andrefinement of knowledge, skills, abilities, andprofessional behaviors.
(Core Value: Excellence)

6A. Physical therapists shall achieve and maintain professional
competence.

6B. Physical therapists shall take responsibility for their professional development based on critical self-assessment andreflection on changes in physical therapist practice, education, health care delivery, and technology.
6C. Physical therapists shall evaluate the strength of evidence
and applicability of content presented during professional
development activities before integrating the content ortechniques into practice.
6D. Physical therapists shall cultivate practice environmentsthat support professional development, lifelong learning,and excellence.

Principle #7: Physical therapists shall promoteorganizational behaviors and business practices
that benefit patients/clients and society.
(Core Values: Integrity, Accountability)

7A. Physical therapists shall promote practice environmentsthat support autonomous and accountable professional
judgments.
7B. Physical therapists shall seek remuneration as is deserved
and reasonable for physical therapist services.
7C. Physical therapists shall not accept gifts or other considerations that influence or give an appearance of influencing
their professional judgment.
7D. Physical therapists shall fully disclose any financial interest
they have in products or services that they recommend topatients/clients.
7E. Physical therapists shall be aware of charges and shall ensurethat documentation and coding for physical therapy services accurately reflect the nature and extent of the services
provided.
7F. Physical therapists shall refrain from employment arrangements, or other arrangements, that prevent physical therapists from fulfilling professional obligations to patients/
clients.

Principle #8: Physical therapists shall participate inefforts to meet the health needs of people locally,nationally, or globally.
(Core Value: Social Responsibility)

8A. Physical therapists shall provide pro bono physical therapy
services or support organizations that meet the healthneeds of people who are economically disadvantaged, uninsured, and underinsured.
8B. Physical therapists shall advocate to reduce health disparities and health care inequities, improve access to health careservices, and address the health, wellness, and preventive
health care needs of people.
8C. Physical therapists shall be responsible stewards of healthcare resources and shall avoid overutilization or underutilization of physical therapy services.
8D. Physical therapists shall educate members of the public
about the benefits of physical therapy and the unique roleof the physical therapist.