Ethics

Question 1

Altruism

Answer 1

Demonstration of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

Question 2

Equality

Answer 2

Treating all people in a way that is free of bias

Question 3

Freedom

Answer 3

Ensuring that we “value the service recipient’s right and desire to guide interventions”

Question 4

Justice

Answer 4

Upholding moral and legal principles and…having knowledge of and respect for the legal rights of recipients of service

Question 5

Dignity

Answer 5

Valuing, promoting, and preserving the inherent worth and uniqueness of each person

Question 6

Truth

Answer 6

Being “faithful to facts and reality”

Question 7

Prudence

Answer 7

Making judgments and responding on the basis of intelligent reflection and rational thought . . . in clinical and ethical reasoning, interactions with colleagues, and volunteer roles

Question 8

Principle 1:
Beneficence

Answer 8

Occupational therapy personnel shall demonstrate a concern for the well-being and safety of the recipients of their services

Question 9

Maintain knowledge on EBP/use current/updated assessment tools

Answer 9

Beneficence

Question 10

Principle 2:
Nonmaleficence

Answer 10

Occupational therapy personnel shall refrain from actions that cause harm

Question 11

Transferring clients from a wheelchair to the bed using due care to avoid harm by locking the wheelchair and bed brakes

Answer 11

Nonmaleficence

Question 12

Not practicing occupational therapy under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Answer 12

Nonmaleficence

Question 13

Principle 3:
Autonomy

Answer 13

Occupational therapy personnel shall respect the right of the person to self-determination, privacy, confidentiality, and consent

Question 14

Respecting the right of clients to refuse to participate in occupational therapy services

Answer 14

Autonomy

Question 15

Safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of clients by complying with regulations outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

Answer 15

Autonomy

Question 16

Principle 4:
Justice

Answer 16

Occupational therapy personnel shall promote equity, inclusion, and objectivity in the provision of occupational therapy services

Question 17

Assisting at a health fair to help promote the health of members of the facility or community

Answer 17

Justice

Question 18

Treating clients fairly no matter their gender, age, ethnicity, or marital status

Answer 18

Justice

Question 19

Principle 5:
Veracity

Answer 19

Occupational therapy personnel shall provide comprehensive, accurate, and objective information when representing the profession

Question 20

Ensuring documentation is accurate and truthful

Answer 20

Veracity

Question 21

Avoiding plagiarism of others’ work

Answer 21

Veracity

Question 22

Principle 6:
Fidelity

Answer 22

Occupational therapy personnel shall treat clients (persons, groups, or populations), colleagues, and other professionals with respect, fairness, discretion, and integrity

Question 23

Treating clients, coworkers, and other health care workers respectfully, such as by not divulging personal information to others

Answer 23

Fidelity

Question 24

An OTR® continues to work with and charge for services with a client after all goals are met and there is no further need for occupational therapy services. This behavior is unethical. Which AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics principle best describes this situation?

Nonmaleficence
Beneficence
Justice
Veracity

Answer 24

Solution: The correct answer is B.

Beneficence is the principle that occupational therapy personnel shall demonstrate a concern for the well-being and safety of the recipients of their services. Beneficence hold personnel accountable to integrity for goals related to treatment. Standard 4J of the AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics relates to service delivery and states, “Occupational therapy personnel shall terminate occupational therapy services in collaboration with the service recipient or responsible party when the services are no longer beneficial.”

A: The ethical principle of Nonmaleficence states that occupational therapy personnel shall intentionally refrain from actions that cause harm. This item is unrelated to causing direct harm (although unneeded services do have the potential to cause harm).

C: The ethical principle of Justice is about promoting fairness and objectivity in providing occupational therapy services.

D: The ethical principle of Veracity is the principle that occupational therapy personnel shall provide comprehensive, accurate, and objective information when representing the profession. Standard 3B states that personnel shall ensure that documentation for reimbursement purposes is done in accordance with applicable laws, guidelines, and regulations.

Question 25

An OTR® is working with a client in an area of practice for which the OTR has not demonstrated competence. The client requires a seating and positioning evaluation for a wheelchair. This is not an area for which the OTR has any experience. The OTR refers the client to an OTR with experience in this area. Which ethical principle is the OTR following?

Justice
Nonmaleficence
Beneficence
Fidelity

Answer 25

Solution: The correct answer is C.

Beneficence includes actions intended to benefit others. This principle relates to taking action to benefit others, including providing services that are within a practitioner’s level of competence.

A: The principle of Justice addresses fairness amongst all who receive services

B: The principle of Nonmaleficence addresses not causing harm to others. It is less applicable in this case because the OTR refers the client to a different practitioner.

D: The principle of Fidelity addresses treating others with respect and integrity.

Question 26

A participant in a research study who has provided informed consent tells the OTR® that she wants to withdraw. Which ethical principles require the OTR to bring the conversation to the attention of the primary investigator (PI)?

Fidelity and Veracity
Veracity and Justice
Autonomy and Fidelity
Autonomy and Justice

Answer 26

Solution: The correct answer is C.

The ethical principle of Autonomy relates to the participant’s right to end any participation in a research study for any reason. Informed consent in research allows a person to stop participating in a research study. Because the OTR is not the PI, the principle of Fidelity would require her to communicate respectfully regarding the request with the PI. Fidelity acknowledges that “professional relationships are greatly influenced by the complexity of the environment in which occupational therapy personnel work. Practitioners, educators, and researchers alike must consistently balance their duties to service recipients, students, research participants, and other professionals as well as to organizations that may influence decision making and professional practice.” The OTR must involve the PI to effectively balance these obligations.

A, B, D: These options do not refer to ethical standards that reflect a participant’s right to stop participating in a research study. The principle of Veracity refers to representation of the profession and utilizing objectivity when doing so.

The principle of Justice refers to provision of services in a fair manner. Although these principles relate in some aspects to the ethical issue in the scenario, the principles of Autonomy and Fidelity are more directly relevant.

Question 27

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Question
An OTR® is engaged in a casual discussion with a colleague about a client. The OTR conveys that the client is rude and obnoxious but deserves to be treated equitably. What ethical principle is the OTR demonstrating?

Justice
Fidelity
Nonmaleficence
Veracity

Answer 27

Solution: The correct answer is A.

In the AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethic​s, Principle 4, Justice, states, “Occupational therapy personnel shall promote equity, inclusion, and objectivity in the provision of occupational therapy services.” The OTR is demonstrating this principle by stating that the client deserves equitable treatment despite the client’s behavior.

B: In the AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethic​s, Principle 6, Fidelity, states, “Occupational therapy personnel shall treat clients, colleagues, and other professionals with respect, fairness, discretion, and integrity.”

C: In the AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethic​s, Principle 2, Nonmaleficence, states, “Occupational therapy personnel shall refrain from actions that cause harm.”

D: In the AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethic​s, Principle 5, Veracity, states, “Occupational therapy personnel shall provide comprehensive, accurate, and objective information when representing the profession.”

Question 28

Why does the AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics encourage occupational therapy practitioners to use evidence-based evaluations, interventions, and therapeutic equipment whenever possible?

Evidence-based practice ensures compliance with institutional rules.
All clients have a right to self-determination.
Failure to use evidence-based practice is malpractice.
Evidence-based practice provides the greatest likelihood of benefiting others.

Answer 28

Solution: The correct answer is D.

Standard 5C (Beneficence) states that practitioners shall “take steps (e.g., professional development, research, supervision, training) to ensure proficiency, use careful judgment, and weigh potential for harm when generally recognized standards do not exist in emerging technology or areas of practice.” Standard 2B (Nonmaleficence) states, “do not inflict harm or injury to recipients of occupational therapy services, students, research participants, or employees.” Use of evidence from empirical research and clinical expertise to inform occupational therapy practice provides the greatest likelihood that practitioners will provide best possible care and reduce the threat of doing harm.

A: Although institutions may encourage evidence-based practice, the Code encourages it because evidence-based practice increases the likelihood that clients will receive the best possible care.

B: Self-determination, part of Principle 3, Autonomy, is an important issue but is not related to use of evidence-based practice.

C: Although malpractice may occur when occupational therapy practitioners do not use evidence to support practice, the Code encourages evidence-based practice not because it considers use of practice that is not evidence based to be malpractice but because evidence-based practice increases the likelihood that clients will receive the best possible care.