Code of Ethics

for Physical
Therapists
Danny Neumann
What do Physical Therapists do
• Provide physical rehabilitation to patients following injury or surgery
• Use various modalities to help patients
• Assessment and treatment of injuries
Code of Ethics for Physical
Therapists
• Created by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
• Guidelines and ethical principles for PT’s to follow
• Extensive due to large number of people PT’s work with and various
enviroments
Example of Ethical Issue
• PT working with a client
• Approached by a friend of client
• Individual asks about your client, what is going on and what you are
helping them with
• What do you say?
What does the Code of ethics say?
•Principle 4 of APTA’s Code of Ethics for Physical
Therapists
•“Physical therapists shall demonstrate integrity in their
relationships with patients and clients, families,
colleagues, students, research participants, other health
care providers, employers, payers, and the public”
(APTA).
Additionally, HIPAA
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
• Purpose is to protect the sensitive information of patients
• It is against HIPAA for healthcare professionals to share patient’s
information with outside sources without their knowledge and consent
Works Cited
• “Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist.” APTA, 12 Aug. 2020,
https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/leadership-and-governance/policies/code-of-ethics-for-the-physical-
therapist. 
• “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).” Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 June 2022,
https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html. 

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