OTA 100 - Ch. 8 Ethics Flashcards
Ethics
The study and philosophy of human conduct.
Professional Code of Ethics (define)
A public statement of principles used to promote and maintain high standards of conduct within a profession. Guidelines for making proper choices.
Principles included in OT Code of Ethics
6 total:
1) Beneficence
2) Nonmaleficence
3) Autonomy
4) Justice
5) Veracity
6) Fidelity
Beneficence includes:
Competency; judgment
- Provide appropriate evaluation/plan of intervention
- Reevaluate/reassess in timely manner for goal achievement
- Provide OT services within level of competence (and ensure delegated work is as well)
- Use careful judgment; weigh potential for harm
- Maintain competency/continuing education
- Terminate OT services in collab. with client or responsible party when services no longer beneficial
- Refer to other health care specialists based on needs of client
- Conduct/disseminate research within ethical guidelines
Nonmalificence includes:
No harm; uncompromised care
- Avoid inflicting harm
- Avoid abandoning the service recipient
- Take appropriate action to remedy personal problems/limitations
- Avoid any undue influences
- Address impaired practice and when necessary report to authorities
- Avoid dual relationships/conflicts of interest
- Avoid sexual activity with client
- Avoid compromising rights or well-being of others based on arbitrary directives (ie: unrealistic productivity expectations)
- Avoid exploiting any relationship to further one’s own’s interests
- Avoid bartering for services
Autonomy includes:
Client choice; transparency
- Respect and honor expressed wishes
- Fully disclose benefits, risks, potential outcomes of intervention
- Obtain consent to ensure voluntariness
- Establish collaborative relationship/shared decision making
- Respect right to refuse OT services
- Refrain from threatening, coercing, deceiving clients
- Respect research participant’s right to withdraw
- Maintain confidentiality of all communication
- Display responsible conduct/discretion when social networking
- Facilitate comprehension and address barriers to communication
Justice includes:
Advocacy; legality; access
- Respond to requests for OT services in timely manner
- Assist those in need of OT to secure access
- Address barriers by offering financial aid, charity care, or pro bono services
- Advocate for changes to systems/policies that are discriminatory
- Maintain awareness of laws and AOTA policies
- Inform colleagues of applicable laws/policies
- Hold requisite credentials
- Provide appropriate supervision
- Obtain approvals prior to research
- Refrain from accepting gifts
- Report any acts in practice, educ. and research that are unethical/illegal
- Collaborate with employers for policies in compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical standards
- Bill/collect fees legally and justly
- Ensure compliance with laws and promote transparency
- Ensure documentation for reimbursement follows laws
- Refrain from actions resulting in unauthorized access to educational content
Veracity includes:
Honesty in presentation; integrity in care
- Represent credentials and findings accurately
- Refrain from using false, fraudulent, deceptive, misleading, unfair information
- Record and report info related to professional or academic documentation and activities
- Identify and disclose errors or adverse events that compromise safety of clients
- Ensure marketing and advertising is truthful
- Describe type and duration of OT accurately in contracts
- Be honest, fair, accurate, respectful and timely re: employee or student job performance
- Give credit and recognition when using others ideas
- Provide students with access to accurate info
- Maintain privacy in telecommunications
Fidelity includes:
Respect; privacy; selflessness
- Preserve, respect, safeguard private info
- Address incompetent, disruptive, unethical, illegal or impaired practice
- Avoid conflicts of interest or commitment
- Avoid using one’s position to give rise to conflict of interest
- Be diligent stewards of human, financial and material resources; do not exploit these resources
- Refrain from verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual harassment
- Refrain from communication that is derogatory, intimidating or disrespectful
- Promote collaborative actions/communication
Beneficence (define):
Concern for the well-being and safety of the recipients of services. Taking action by helping others; promoting good by preventing and removing harm.
Nonmalificence (define):
To abstain from causing harm to others. To not impose risks of harm even if potential risk is without malicious or harmful intent. Goals pursued justify the risks that must be imposed to achieve those goals (ie: treatment that has pain will over time benefit the client).
Autonomy (define):
Respect the right of client to self-determination, privacy, and consent. Allowing client to decide goals for intervention; involve authorized agent when needed. Protect confidential information.
Justice (define):
OTP shall promote fairness and objectivity in provision of services. Respect and consistently follow applicable laws. Generate unbiased decisions.
Veracity (define):
Provide comprehensive, accurate and objective information when representing the profession. Use truthfulness, candor and honesty in transmission of info and foster understanding. Requires thoughtful analysis of how full disclosure of info may affect outcomes.
Fidelity (define):
Treat clients, colleagues and other professionals with respect, fairness, discretion and integrity. Keep commitments. Maintain respectful collegial and organizational relationships.
