This document provides guidelines for physical therapists regarding ethical conduct and professionalism. It summarizes the American Physical Therapy Association's Code of Ethics and provides interpretations to assist therapists with applying ethical principles. The guidelines state that physical therapists must (1) respect patients' rights and provide compassionate care, (2) act trustworthily toward patients and in practice, and (3) achieve and maintain professional competence. Therapists are expected to place patients' needs and interests above their own.

1. American Physical Therapy Association
Guide for Professional Conduct
Purpose
This Guide for Professional Conduct (Guide) conduct. The Guide provides guidelines by the Guide apply to all physical therapists.
is intended to serve physical therapists in which physical therapists may determine the These guidelines are subject to change as
interpreting the Code of Ethics (Code) of propriety of their conduct. It is also intended the dynamics of the profession change and
the American Physical Therapy Association to guide the professional development of as new patterns of health care delivery are
(Association), in matters of professional physical therapist students. The Code and developed and accepted by the professional
community and the public. This Guide is
subject to monitoring and timely revision
Code of Ethics by the Ethics and Judicial Committee of the
Preamble Association.
The Code of Ethics of the American Physical Therapy Association sets forth principles Interpreting Ethical Principles
for the ethical practices of physical therapy. All physical therapists are responsible for
The interpretations expressed in this Guide
maintaining and promoting ethical practice. To this end, the physical therapist shall act
in the best interest of the patient/client. This Code of Ethics shall be binding on all reflect the opinions, decisions, and the
physical therapists. advice of the Ethics and Judicial Committee.
These interpretations are intended to assist a
Principle 1 physical therapist in applying general ethical
A physical therapist shall respect the rights and dignity of all individuals and shall principles to specific situations. They should
provide compassionate care. not be considered inclusive of all situations
Principle 2 that could evolve.
A physical therapist shall act in a trustworthy manner toward patients/clients and in all
PRINCIPLE 1
other aspects of physical therapy practice.
A physical therapist shall respect the rights
Principle 3 and dignity of all individuals and shall provide
A physical therapist shall comply with laws and regulations governing physical therapy compassionate care.
and shall strive to effect changes that benefit patients/clients.
1.1 Attitudes of a Physical Therapist
Principle 4 A. A physical therapist shall recognize,
A physical therapist shall exercise sound professional judgment. respect, and respond to individual
Principle 5 and cultural differences with
compassion and sensitivity.
A physical therapist shall achieve and maintain professional competence.
B. A physical therapist shall be guided at
Principle 6 all times by concern for the physical,
A physical therapist shall maintain and promote high standards for physical therapy psychological, and socioeconomic
practice, education, and research. welfare of patients/clients.
Principle 7 C. A physical therapist shall not harass,
abuse, or discriminate against
A physical therapist shall seek only such remuneration as is deserved and reasonable for others.
physical therapy services.
PRINCIPLE 2
Principle 8
A physical therapist shall act in a trustworthy
A physical therapist shall provide and make available accurate and relevant information manner toward patients/clients, and in all other
to patients/clients about their care and to the public about physical therapy services. aspects of physical therapy practice.
Principle 9 2.1 Patient/Physical Therapist
A physical therapist shall protect the public and the profession from unethical, Relationship
incompetent, and illegal acts. A. A physical therapist shall place the
Principle 10 patient’s/client’s interest(s) above
those of the physical therapist.
A physical therapist shall endeavor to address the health needs of society.
Working in the patient/client’s
Principle 11 best interest requires knowledge
A physical therapist shall respect the rights, knowledge, and skills of colleagues and of the patient’s/client’s needs from
other health care professionals. the patient’s/client’s perspective.
Patients/Clients often come to the
Adopted by the House of Delegates physical therapist in a vulnerable
June 1981 state and normally will rely on the
Last amended June 2000 physical therapist’s advice, which
they perceive to be based on superior

2. knowledge, skill, and experience. The make decisions regarding the while his/her ability to do so safely
trustworthy physical therapist acts recommended plan of care, including is impaired.
to ameliorate the patient’s/client’s consent, modification, or refusal. D. A physical therapist shall exercise
vulnerability, not to exploit it. B. A physical therapist shall sound professional judgment based
B. A physical therapist shall not exploit communicate to the patient/client upon his/her knowledge, skill,
any aspect of the physical therapist/ the findings of his/her examination, education, training, and experience.
patient relationship. evaluation, diagnosis, and prognosis. E. Upon accepting a patient/client for
C. A physical therapist shall not C. A physical therapist shall collaborate physical therapy services, a physical
engage in any sexual relationship with the patient/client to establish therapist shall be responsible for:
or activity, whether consensual or the goals of treatment and the plan the examination, evaluation, and
nonconsensual, with any patient of care. diagnosis of that individual; the
while a physical therapist/patient prognosis and intervention; re-
D. A physical therapist shall use sound
relationship exists. Termination examination and modification of the
professional judgment in informing
of the physical therapist/patient plan of care; and the maintenance of
relationship does not eliminate the patient/client of any substantial
risks of the recommended examina- adequate records, including progress
the possibility that a sexual or reports. A physical therapist shall
intimate relationship may exploit the tion and intervention.
establish the plan of care and shall
vulnerability of the former patient/ E. A physical therapist shall not restrict provide and/or supervise and direct
client. patients’ freedom to select their the appropriate interventions. See
D. A physical therapist shall encourage provider of physical therapy. Section 2.4.
an open and collaborative dialogue PRINCIPLE 3 F. If the diagnosis process reveals
with the patient/client. A physical therapist shall comply with laws and findings that are outside the scope of
E. In the event the physical therapist regulations governing physical therapy and shall the physical therapist’s knowledge,
or patient terminates the physical strive to effect changes that benefit patients/clients. experience, or expertise, the physical
therapist/patient relationship while therapist shall so inform the patient/
the patient continues to need 3.1 Professional Practice client and refer to an appropriate
physical therapy services, the A physical therapist shall comply with laws practitioner.
physical therapist should take steps governing the qualifications, functions, G. When the patient has been
to transfer the care of the patient to and duties of a physical therapist. referred from another practitioner,
another provider.
3.2 Just Laws and Regulations the physical therapist shall
2.2 Truthfulness A Physical therapist shall advocate communicate pertinent findings
A physical therapist has an obligation the adoption of laws, regulations, and and/or information to the referring
to provide accurate and truthful policies by providers, employers, third- practitioner.
information. A physical therapist shall party payers, legislatures, and regulatory H. A physical therapist shall determine
not make statements that he/she knows agencies to provide and improve access when a patient/client will no longer
or should know are false, deceptive, to necessary health care services for all benefit from physical therapy
fraudulent, or misleading. See Section individuals. services. See Section 7.1.D.
8.2.C and D.
3.3 Unjust Laws and Regulations 4.2 Direction and Supervision
2.3 Confidential Information A physical therapist shall endeavor to A. The supervising physical therapist
A. Information relating to the physical change unjust laws, regulations, and has primary responsibility for the
therapist/patient relationship is con- policies that govern the practice of physical therapy care rendered to a
fidential and may not be communi- physical therapy. See Section 10.2. patient/client.
cated to a third party not involved in
that patient’s care without the prior PRINCIPLE 4 B. A physical therapist shall not delegate
consent of the patient, subject to ap- A physical therapist shall exercise sound professional to a less qualified person any activity
plicable law. that requires the professional skill,
judgment.
knowledge, and judgment of the
B. Information derived from peer 4.1 Professional Responsibility physical therapist.
review shall be held confidential
by the reviewer unless the physical A. A physical therapist shall make 4.3 Practice Arrangements
therapist who was reviewed consents professional judgments that are in
A. Participation in a business,
to the release of the information. the patient’s/client’s best interests.
partnership, corporation, or other
C. A physical therapist may disclose B. Regardless of practice setting, entity does not exempt physical
information to appropriate a physical therapist has primary therapists, whether employers,
authorities when it is necessary to responsibility for the physical therapy partners, or stockholders, either
protect the welfare of an individual care of a patient and shall make individually or collectively, from the
or the community or when required independent judgments regarding obligation to promote, maintain, and
by law. Such disclosure shall be in that care consistent with accepted comply with the ethical principles of
accordance with applicable law. professional standards. See Sections the Association.
2.4 and 6.1.
2.4 Patient Autonomy and Consent B. A physical therapist shall advise his/
C. A physical therapist shall not provide her employer(s) of any employer
A. A physical therapist shall respect physical therapy to a patient/client
the patient’s/client’s right to practice that causes a physical

3. therapist to be in conflict with the 6.3 Professional Education B. A physical therapist shall never place
ethical principles of the Association. A. A physical therapist shall support her/his own financial interest above
A physical therapist shall seek high-quality education in academic the welfare of individuals under his/
to eliminate aspects of his/her and clinical settings. her care.
employment that are in conflict C. A physical therapist shall recognize
with the ethical principles of the B. A physical therapist participating in
the educational process is responsible that third-party payer contracts
Association. may limit, in one form or another,
to the students, the academic
4.4 Gifts and Other Consideration(s) institutions, and the clinical settings the provision of physical therapy
A. A physical therapist shall not invite, for promoting ethical conduct. A services. Third-party limitations do
accept, or offer gifts, monetary physical therapist shall model ethical not absolve the physical therapist
incentives, or other considerations behavior and provide the student from making sound professional
that affect or give an appearance with information about the Code judgments that are in the patient’s
of affecting his/her professional of Ethics, opportunities to discuss best interest. A physical therapist
judgment. ethical conflicts, and procedures shall avoid underutilization of
for reporting unresolved ethical physical therapy services.
B. A physical therapist shall not offer
or accept kickbacks in exchange for conflicts. See Section 9. D. When a physical therapist’s judgment
patient referrals. See Sections 7.1.F is that a patient will receive negligible
6.4 Continuing Education
and G and 9.1.D. benefit from physical therapy
A. A physical therapist providing services, the physical therapist shall
PRINCIPLE 5 continuing education must be not provide or continue to provide
competent in the content area. such services if the primary reason
A physical therapist shall achieve and maintain
professional competence. B. When a physical therapist provides for doing so is to further financial
continuing education, he/she self-interest of the physical therapist
5.1 Scope of Competence shall ensure that course content, or his/her employer. A physical
A physical therapist shall practice within objectives, faculty credentials, and therapist shall avoid overutilization
the scope of his/her competence and responsibilities of the instructional of physical therapy services. See
commensurate with his/her level of staff are accurately stated in the Section 4.1.H.
education, training, and experience. promotional and instructional E. Fees for physical therapy services
5.2 Self-Assessment course materials. should be reasonable for the
A physical therapist has a lifelong C. A physical therapist shall evaluate services performed, considering
professional responsibility for maintaining the efficacy and effectiveness the setting in which it is provided,
competence through on-going self- of information and techniques practice costs in the geographic area,
assessment, education, and enhancement presented in continuing education judgment of other organizations,
of knowledge and skills. programs before integrating them and other relevant factors.
into his/her practice. F. A physical therapist shall not
5.3 Professional Development
6.5 Research directly or indirectly request, receive,
A physical therapist shall participate or participate in the dividing,
in educational activities that enhance A. A physical therapist participating
in research shall abide by ethical transferring, assigning, or rebating
his/her basic knowledge and skills. See of an unearned fee. See Sections
Section 6.1. standards governing protection of
human subjects and dissemination 4.4.A and B.
PRINCIPLE 6 of results. G. A physical therapist shall not profit
A physical therapist shall maintain and promote B. A physical therapist shall support by means of a credit or other valuable
high standards for physical therapy practice, research activities that contribute consideration, such as an unearned
education, and research. knowledge for improved patient commission, discount, or gratuity,
care. in connection with the furnishing
6.1 Professional Standards of physical therapy services. See
A physical therapist’s practice shall be C. A physical therapist shall report Sections 4.4.A and B.
consistent with accepted professional to appropriate authorities any acts
in the conduct or presentation of H. Unless laws impose restrictions to
standards. A physical therapist shall
research that appear unethical or the contrary, physical therapists who
continuously engage in assessment
illegal. See Section 9. provide physical therapy services
activities to determine compliance with
within a business entity may pool
these standards. PRINCIPLE 7 fees and monies received. Physical
6.2 Practice A physical therapist shall seek only such therapists may divide or apportion
A. A physical therapist shall achieve and remuneration as is deserved and reasonable for these fees and monies in accordance
maintain professional competence. physical therapy services. with the business agreement.
See Section 5. I. A physical therapist may enter into
7.1 Business and Employment
B. A physical therapist shall agreements with organizations to
Practices provide physical therapy services if
demonstrate his/her commitment
A. A physical therapist’s business/ such agreements do not violate the
to quality improvement by engaging
employment practices shall be ethical principles of the Association
in peer and utilization review and
consistent with the ethical principles or applicable laws.
other self-assessment activities.
of the Association.

4. 7.2 Endorsement of Products or 8.1 Accurate and Relevant C. A physical therapist shall report any
Services Information to the Patient conduct that appears to be unethical,
incompetent, or illegal.
A. A physical therapist shall not exert A. A physical therapist shall provide the
influence on individuals under his/ patient/client accurate and relevant D. A physical therapist may not
her care or their families to use information about his/her condition participate in any arrangements in
products or services based on the and plan of care. See Section 2.4. which patients are exploited due
direct or indirect financial interest to the referring sources’ enhancing
B. Upon the request of the patient, the
of the physical therapist in such their personal incomes as a result
physical therapist shall provide, or
products or services. Realizing that of referring for, prescribing, or
make available, the medical record
these individuals will normally rely recommending physical therapy. See
to the patient or a patient-designated
on the physical therapist’s advice, Sections 2.1.B, 4, and 7.
third party.
their best interest must always be PRINCIPLE 10
C. A physical therapist shall inform
maintained, as must their right of A physical therapist shall endeavor to address the
patients of any known financial
free choice relating to the use of limitations that may affect their health needs of society.
any product or service. Although it care.
cannot be considered unethical for 10.1 Pro Bono Service
physical therapists to own or have a D. A physical therapist shall inform the A physical therapist shall render pro
financial interest in the production, patient when, in his/her judgment,
bono publico (reduced or no fee) services
sale, or distribution of products or the patient will receive negligible
to patients lacking the ability to pay for
services, they must act in accordance benefit from further care. See
services, as each physical therapist’s
with law and make full disclosure of Section 7.1.C.
practice permits.
their interest whenever individuals 8.2 Accurate and Relevant
under their care use such products 10.2 Individual and Community
Information to the Public Health
or services. A. A physical therapist shall inform the
B. A physical therapist may receive A. A physical therapist shall be aware
public about the societal benefits of
remuneration for endorsement or of the patient’s health-related needs
the profession and who is qualified
advertisement of products or services and act in a manner that facilitates
to provide physical therapy services.
to the public, physical therapists, or meeting those needs.
B. Information given to the public
other health professionals provided B. A physical therapist shall endeavor
shall emphasize that individual
he/she discloses any financial to support activities that benefit the
problems cannot be treated without
interest in the production, sale, or health status of the community. See
individualized examination and
distribution of said products or Section 3.
plans/programs of care.
services. PRINCIPLE 11
C. A physical therapist may advertise
C. When endorsing or advertising his/her services to the public. See A physical therapist shall respect the rights,
products or services, a physical Section 2.2. knowledge, and skills of colleagues and other health
therapist shall use sound care professionals.
D. A physical therapist shall not use, or
professional judgment and shall not
participate in the use of, any form of 11.1 Consultation
give the appearance of Association
communication containing a false,
endorsement unless the Association A physical therapist shall seek consultation
plagiarized, fraudulent, deceptive,
has formally endorsed the products whenever the welfare of the patient will
unfair, or sensational statement or
or services. be safeguarded or advanced by consulting
claim. See Section 2.2.
those who have special skills, knowledge,
7.3 Disclosure E. A physical therapist who places a and experience.
A physical therapist shall disclose to paid advertisement shall identify
the patient if the referring practitioner it as such unless it is apparent 11.2 Patient/Provider Relationships
derives compensation from the provision from the context that it is a paid A physical therapist shall not undermine
of physical therapy. advertisement. the relationship(s) between his/her patient
and other health care professionals.
PRINCIPLE 8 PRINCIPLE 9
A physical therapist shall provide and make A physical therapist shall protect the public and the 11.3 Disparagement
available accurate and relevant information to profession from unethical, incompetent, and illegal Physical therapists shall not disparage
patients/clients about their care and to the public acts. colleagues and other health care
about physical therapy services. professionals. See Section 9 and Section
9.1 Consumer Protection 2.4.A.
A. A physical therapist shall provide care
that is within the scope of practice
as defined by the state practice act.
B. A physical therapist shall not engage
in any conduct that is unethical,
incompetent, or illegal.
Issued by the Ethics and Judicial Committee
American Physical Therapy Association
October 1981, Last amended 2004 P-6 © 2005 American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, www.apta.org