Occupational Therapy Principles Flashcards
Principal 1: Beneficence
Occupational therapy personnel shall demonstrate a concern for the well-being and safety of the recipients of their services
– includes all forms of action intended to benefit other persons. The term connotes acts of mercy, kindness, and charity and requires taking action by helping others, in other words, by promoting good, by preventing harm, and by removing harm. Examples include protecting and defending the rights of others, preventing harm from occurring to others, removing conditions that will cause harm to others, helping persons with disabilities, and rescuing persons in danger.
Principal 2: Nonmaleficence
Occupational therapy personnel shall refrain from actions that cause harm
– obligates us to abstain from causing harm to others. It also includes an obligation to not impose risks of harm even if the potential risk is without malicious or harmful intent. It is often examined under the process of due care which requires that the goals pursued justify the risks that must be imposed to achieve those goals. For example, this applies to situations in which the client might feel pain from a treatment intervention; however, the acute pain is justified by potential longitudinal, evidence-based benefits of the treatment.
Principal 3: Autonomy
Occupational therapy personnel shall respect the right of the individual to self-determination, privacy, confidentiality, and consent.
– expresses the concept that practitioners have a duty to treat the client according to the client’s desires, within the bounds of accepted standards of care, and to protect the client’s confidential information. Often referred to as the self-determination principle; however it also respects a person’s right to hold views, make choices, and take actions based on his or her values and beliefs. Individuals have a right to make a determination regarding care decisions that directly affect their lives. In the event that a person lacks decision-making capacity, his or her autonomy should be respected through involvement of an authorized agent or surrogate decision maker.
Principal 4: Justice
Occupational therapy personnel shall promote fairness and objectivity in the provision of occupational therapy services
– relates to the fair, equitable, and appropriate treatment of persons. OT personnel should relate in a respectful, fair, and impartial manner to individuals and groups with whom they interact. They should also respect the applicable laws and standards related to their area of practice. It requires the impartial consideration and consistent following of rules to generate unbiased decisions and promote fairness. As OT personnel, we work to uphold a society in which all individuals have an equitable opportunity to achieve occupational engagement as an essential component of life
Principal 5: Veracity
Occupational therapy personnel shall provide comprehensive, accurate, and objective information when representing the profession
– based on the virtues of truthfulness, candor, and honesty. The principal of veracity refers to comprehensive, accurate, and objective transmission of information and includes fostering understanding of such information. It is based on respect owed to others, including but not limited to recipients of service, colleagues, students, researchers, and research participants. By communicating with others, OT people implicitly promise to be truthful and not deceptive. Concepts of veracity must be carefully balanced with other potentially competing ethical principals, cultural beliefs, and organizational policies. It is ultimately valued as a means to establish trust and strengthen professional relationships and may also require thoughtful analysis of how full disclosure of information may affect outcomes.
Principal 6: Fidelity
Occupational therapy personnel shall threat clients, colleagues, and other professionals with respect, fairness, discretion, and integrity
– refers tot he duty one has to keep a commitment once it is made. In health professions the commitment refers to promises made between a provider and a client or patient based on an expectation of loyalty, staying with client in a time of need, and compliance with a code of ethics. This principle also addresses maintaining respectful collegial and organizational relationships.
