Ethics for PTs and PTAs: 3 Hours

Outline:

Section 1: Foundational Concepts

Common Ethical Concerns in Physical Therapy

Ethics, Morals, and the Law

Review

Key Takeaways

Section 2: Healthcare Laws

Key Healthcare Laws

Ms. Madan

Compliance and Reporting Violations

Key Takeaways

Section 3: The APTA Ethical Codes and Core Values

APTA Core Ethical Documents

Ethical Codes

Review

APTA Core Values

Review

Key Takeaways

Section 4: Applying the Ethical Codes and Core Values

Practice Applying the Ethical Codes

Key Takeaways

Section 5: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas and the 8-Step Method

Ethical Issues versus Ethical Dilemmas

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas in Practice

8 Steps to Resolve an Ethical Dilemma

Review

Key Takeaways

Section 6: Additional Methods for Solving Ethical Dilemmas

Ethical Lens Grid

Active Engagement Model

Review

Finding a Solution

Handling the Outcome

Key Takeaways

Section 7: Special Focus Areas

Cultural Humility

Telehealth

Refusal of Treatment

Review

Cognitive Impairment and Informed Consent

Advanced Directives

Artificial Intelligence

Key Takeaways

Section 8: Conclusion

Summary

Course Contributors

Resources

References

Nicole Fogarty holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northeastern University. She has experience treating patients with cardiopulmonary, orthopedic, and neurological impairments in the inpatient setting. She also has experience in outpatient orthopedics. She has additional training in medical screening, lumbopelvic examination and treatment, and treatment of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. Nicole enjoys using her clinical experience and interest in current rehabilitation research as a Physical Therapy writer for Relias.

John Adamson, PT, MDiv, earned his Bachelors of Science degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University in 1991 and his Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2006. From 2015 to 2025, he held a Geriatric Clinical Specialist certification from the American Physical Therapy Association. Since 2009, John has served in clinical, operational, and compliance roles for large rehabilitation companies. He currently works as a Patient Coordinator/Clinical Navigator in a company that assists patients in achieving access to pharmaceutical, biological, and medical device treatments. He is the author and presenter of multiple courses covering the topics of documentation compliance, ethics, and older adult treatment approaches. He specializes in writing letters of medical necessity and appeals for therapy and medical interventions, utilizing an approach incorporating evidence-based practice, ethical standards, and insurers' social and governance value statements. He resides in Virginia with his wife Traci and their 12 children, 6 of whom are adopted from Ukraine.