1. Foundations of Practice
Ethics in Occupational Therapy Practice
OT 603 & 604
OT 301 A & B

2. OBJECTIVES
Describe ethics and the importance of ethics to the profession of occupational therapy;
Define the purpose of the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and its ethical principles;

3. OBJECTIVES
Relate the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics to the Core Values and Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Practice, and Standards of Practice for Occupational Therapy;
Discuss the nature of the most commonly occurring ethical dilemmas in the profession of occupational therapy;
Define the jurisdiction of the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy and the American Occupational Therapy Association in relationship to ethics in practice.

4. Definitions
Morals – standards and guidelines acting as our ideals to protect important human values.
Social conventions about right and wrong
Types of morality: personal, group, professional. and societal
We use moral reasoning to reflect on ethical issues

5. Definitions - continued
Values – beliefs or objects we hold dear
Law – body or system of rules used by an authority to impose control over a system or humans.

6. Definitions - continued
Ethics – values and beliefs that are part of a particular group that provide a guide for determining right and wrong. Ethical principles form the basis for judgments and actions in professional practice.
“Ethics is a branch of applied philosophy and is a careful and systematic study of the nature of morality” (Bailey & Schwartberg, 2003, p.3).

7. Bioethics
Branch of ethics focusing on problems within medical practice, health care services, and medical/biological research.

8. Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards (2010)
Principle 1: Occupational therapy personnel shall demonstrate a concern for the well-being and safety of the recipients of their services. (beneficence)
Principle 2: Occupational therapy personnel shall intentionally refrain from actions that cause harm. (nonmaleficence)
What are the limits of beneficence within the provision of OT services, delivery of public services – Medicare, research, housing for the disadvantaged?
What are the mechanisms in place to protect against public harm?

9. Principle 3: Occupational therapy personnel shall respect the rights of the individual to self determination. (autonomy)
Principle of utility- bring about greatest benefit and least harm, issues of competing or limited resources

10. Principle 4: Occupational therapy personnel shall provide services in a fair and equitable manner. (social justice)
Principle 5: Occupational therapy personnel shall comply with institutional rules, local, state, federal, and international laws and AOTA documents applicable to the profession of occupational therapy. (procedural justice).
Autonomy: choice without coercion

11. Principle 6: Occupational therapy personnel shall provide comprehensive, accurate and objective information when representing the profession. (veracity)
Principle 7: Occupational therapy personnel shall treat colleagues and other professionals with respect, fairness, discretion, and integrity (fidelity)

12. Reasonably Prudent Theory
Guiding legal principle: “Health care practitioners are required to act as similar health care practitioners would in similar circumstances” (Hemelt & Mackert, 1978, p. 29).

13. Recognizing an ethical problem
Situation perceived to have negative implications regarding moral values and duties and it poses extremely difficult choices (Purtillo, 2005).

14. Ethical Dilemmas Steps to Resolution Clearly frame the question
Situations in which the right or correct answer is not obvious OR when a less-than-satisfactory answer is available
Steps to Resolution
Clearly frame the question
Gather relevant facts
Moral diagnosis-frame the problem by determining relevant ethical
Generate multiple practical alternatives & consequences
Using ethical guidelines, choose course of action
Act & reflect on action

15. Guiding Questions for the Chosen Action
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Is it legal?

16. Professional Oversight Organizations
Ethics Committees
Institutional Review Boards
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
State regulatory boards
Poerpoint.