Everyday Ethics In Occupational Therapy ch 1-3 Flashcards
Ethics
- defined as the study of morality
- what a GROUP, ORGANIZATION, or SOCIETY has agreed on as the way things ought to be
Morality
made up of societal guidelines for right and wrong, relational factors, judgments made within specific contexts, a sense of duty, and one’s own personal
values.
Morality ideals vary among PEOPLE
Rule 1:
Enforcement
The Ethics Commission only has jurisdiction over AOTA members.
- only if AOTA members
- AOTA Ethics Commission CANNOT bar a person from practicing OT; only a state, district, or territory licensure but they can refer
Rule 2
Education
The Ethics Commission Role is to inform the AOTA membership on the Code and its application
The standards within the Code protect the public, the recipients of OT services, and the
practitioners themselves.
AOTA Code of Ethics
An official document that outlines aspirational core values and ethical principles.
ALL OT personnel in all areas of OT are expected to abide by the Code including
students of OT.
7 Core Values
These are 7 core values that provide a foundation to guide occupational therapy
personnel in their interactions with OTHERS.
These should be determined when considering the most ethical course of action
Core Values: Altruism
Indicates demonstration of unselfish concern for the welfare of others. OT
personnel reflect this concept in actions and attitudes of commitment, caring,
dedication, responsiveness, and understanding.
Core Values: Equality
Indicates that all persons have fundamental human rights and the right to the same opportunities.
This is demonstrates through an attitude of fairness and impartiality and treating
ALL persona in a way that is free of bias.
Personnel should recognize their own biases and respect all personas
Core Values: Freedom
Indicates valuing each person’s right to exercise autonomy and demonstrate
independence, initiative, and self-direction
Core Values: Justice
Indicates that OT personnel provide OT services for ALL persons in need of these
services and maintain a goal-directed and objective relationship with recipients of
services.
Core Values: Dignity
Indicates the importance of valuing, promoting, and preserving the inherent worth
and uniqueness of each person.
Includes: respecting the person’s social and cultural heritage and life experiences
through cultural sensitivity , humility, and agility.
Core Values: Truth
Indicates that OT personnel in all situations should be faithful to facts and reality.
Also known as veracity
Core Values: Prudence
Indicates the ability to govern and disciplines oneself through the use of reason.
6 Principles
These guide ethical decision making and inspire OT personnel to act in
accordance with the highest ideals.
Principle 1: Beneficence
“Occupational therapy personnel shall demonstrate a concern for the well-being and
safety of persons”
Historically indicates acts of mercy, kindness, and charity
This is to BENEFIT other persons. To promote good, to prevent harm, and to remove
harm.
Principle 2: Nonmaleficence
“Occupational therapy personnel shall refrain from actions that cause harm.
- do no harm
-do care
Principle 3: Autonomy
“ Occupational therapy personnel shall respect the right of the person to self-determination, privacy,
confidentiality, and consent”
you must treat despite your beliefs
Often referred to as, “The Self-Determination Principle”
Principle 4: Justice
“ Occupational therapy personnel shall promote equity, inclusion, and objectivity in the provision of occupational therapy services.”
Relates to the fair, equitable, and appropriate treatment of persons
Principle 5:Veracity
“ Occupational therapy personnel shall provide comprehensive, accurate, and
objective information when representing the profession.”
Based on the virtues of truthfulness, candor, honesty and respect owed to others
Principle 6: Fidelity
“ Occupational therapy personnel shall treat clients colleagues, and other professionals with respect, fairness, discretion, and integrity.”.
Refers to the duty one has to keep a commitment
FIRST response an OT practitioner has about an ethical issue
emotional
Moral Distress:
or psychological distress caused by exposure to a moral event, if they are unable to reach an acceptable conclusion to the moral event.
Ethical decision-making framework
guide in the analysis of ethical problems that requires an
occupational therapy practitioner to use thoughtful reflection and judgment to determine and ethical
course of action that produces a caring response.
Step 1: Understand Principles & Core Values
Must possess a fundamental understanding and skill in applying the core values
and aspirational ethical principles of the profession, housed in the AOTA Code of
Ethics
