Main description:

A Case-Based Approach to Learning Ethics in Physical Therapy

Ethics in Physical Therapy utilizes a unique case-based approach to teach students and clinicians how to apply theoretical concepts to real-world situations. The cases were carefully selected to encourage thinking and discussion. The accompanying text provides a framework to answer the "should" questions, such as "What should I do?" and "How should I act?" The format provides the opportunity to move beyond the individual realm, when appropriate, resolving issues within an institutional or societal perspective.

The text is divided into two sections: "Ethics for the Physical Therapist" and "Types of Ethical Decisions: Case Analysis". They are designed to integrate with one another, but, each section can also be used separately. Part I provides more didactic, foundational material, while Part II strives to apply ethical decision-making tools to relevant cases in physical therapy practice, with the second section focusing on case analyses.

The purpose of Ethics in Physical Therapy is to give students and clinicians a lens through which to analyze contemporary ethical challenges. Philosophical theory within the text is limited to that which can be applied practically in the clinical setting. This book is not intended to be a work on ethical behavior, rather, it is designed to provide students and clinicians with a framework in which to approach the uncertainty of ethical decision making with tools to aid their inherent judgment.

Contents:

Preface
How to Use This Book
Part One. Ethics for the Physical Therapist
1. Healthcare Ethics
2. Professionalism
3. Ethical Guidance: The Code of Ethics for Physical Therapists and Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant
4. Ethical Risk Factors
5. Applying Ethical Decision-Making Models in Clinical Practice
Case Example 1: Too Much of a Good Thing
Case Example 2: Stepping Over the Line?
6. The Ethical Challenges of the Future
Part Two. Types of Ethical Decisions: Case Analysis
7. Introduction to Case Analysis
Case Example 3: It's Not in My Job Description!
8. Accountability
Case 1 Destination Dilemma: Best Interest Determination
Case 2 What Happens in PT, Stays in PT: Patient Confidentiality vs. Professional Duty
Case 3 Sticks and Stones: Patient-Therapist Relationship Challenges
9. Boundary Issues
Case 4 A Family Affair: A Dual Relationship
Case 5 Who Sent Me a Text?: Social Media Boundary Violation
Case 6 Crossing the Professional Chiasm: Power Gradient
10. Practice Issues
Case 7 Can You "See" Me Now?: Workplace Dictating a Service Delivery Model 92
Case 8 Put Me In, Coach: The Complexities of Answering Patient and Employer Expectations Simultaneously
Case 9 Are You the PT for Me?: Self-Assessment to Determine What Is Best for the Patient
11. Professional Relationships
Case 10 Joint Moves: Respect for Interprofessional Practice
Case 11 An Acute Cold Shoulder: Destructive Professional Relationship
Case 12 Homesick: Professional Power Gradient Abuse
12. Professional Responsibility
Case 13 A Passive Protocol: Autonomous Clinical Decision Making
Case 14 Artificial Competence: Assessing Competence and Limitations
Case 15 Alphabet Soup: Protect Patients by Accurate Reporting of Skills
13. Professional Self-Regulation
Case 16 Who Are You?: Responsibility to Report
Case 17 Where Is the Evidence?: Exceeding Responsibility
Case 18 An Education on Staff Behavior: Stopping Poor Practice
14. Supervision
Case 19 Long-Distance Supervision: Inappropriate Supervision
Case 20 Supervision Revision: Supervision Conflict
Case 21 PRN PT or PTA: Resisting Supervision
15. The Student Physical Therapist
Case 22 Student or PT?: Abdication of Supervision
Case 23 The Student Advocate: New Professional Responsibility
Case 24 Project Professional Skills: Inappropriate Professional Behavior
Appendix A: The Code of Ethics for Physical Therapists
Appendix B: Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant
Appendix C: Ideas to Consider Answers
Appendix D: References
Index