Standard 5 - Requires that assistants achieve and maintain competence in provision of select interventions. Standard 6 - Specifies that assistants make judgments in accordance with both educational and legal qualifications. The APTA Ethics and Judicial Committee will begin to edit and modify the Guide for Professional Conduct, which accompanies the Code, and the Guide for Conduct of the Affiliate Member, which is the companion to the Standards. Look for updates on these documents in future articles from the Chapter Ethics Committee, or in APTA publications. This Code of Ethics of the American Physical Therapy Association sets forth principles for the ethical practice of physical therapy.
All physical therapists are responsible for maintaining and promoting ethical practice.
This Code of Ethics shall be binding on all physical therapists. A physical therapist shall respect the rights and dignify of all individuals and shall provide compassionate care. A physical therapist shall exercise sound professional judgment. A physical therapist shall achieve and maintain professional competence. A physical therapist shall maintain and promote high standards for physical therapy practice, education and research.