NPTE-PT Test Test Professional Responsibilities and Ethics 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A physical therapist receives a gift worth $150 from a grateful patient at the conclusion of a successful course of treatment. According to the APTA Code of Ethics, what is the MOST appropriate response?
- Accept the gift graciously, as refusing it would be culturally insensitive and damage the therapeutic relationship
- Accept the gift only if it is consumable, such as food, and decline non-consumable items
- Decline the gift and explain that accepting gifts of significant value can compromise professional objectivity and create conflicts of interest (Correct answer)
- Report the gift offer to a supervisor before making any decision
Correct answer: Decline the gift and explain that accepting gifts of significant value can compromise professional objectivity and create conflicts of interest
The APTA Code of Ethics requires physical therapists to avoid conflicts of interest and maintain professional boundaries. Accepting gifts of significant monetary value can create real or perceived obligations that compromise clinical judgment and the therapeutic relationship. Therapists should politely decline and explain this professional boundary to the patient.
Question 2: A physical therapist is asked by an attorney to provide an expert opinion in a legal case involving a patient who was never under the therapist's care. The therapist has no direct knowledge of the patient. What does the APTA Code of Ethics require in this situation?
- Refuse to participate entirely, as physical therapists cannot serve as expert witnesses outside of their own patient relationships
- Participate and provide opinions based on the records provided, relying on general professional knowledge
- Provide testimony only if compensated at a standard expert witness rate approved by the state licensing board
- Ensure that any opinion rendered is based on sound professional judgment, accurate information, and falls within the therapist's area of competence (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ensure that any opinion rendered is based on sound professional judgment, accurate information, and falls within the therapist's area of competence
The APTA Code of Ethics permits physical therapists to serve as expert witnesses but requires that testimony be based on sound professional judgment and accurate information. The therapist must only opine within their area of competence and must not misrepresent their credentials or knowledge. Expert witness work is a legitimate professional role when conducted ethically.
Question 3: A physical therapist employed by a private practice is instructed by the practice owner to see each patient for only 15 minutes and delegate the remainder of all sessions to an unlicensed aide. The therapist believes this arrangement is inadequate for safe patient care. What is the MOST ethically appropriate action?
- Comply with the employer's directive, as employment obligations take precedence over personal clinical preferences
- Immediately resign from the position without taking any further action
- Document the concern, communicate it to the practice owner, and if unresolved, report to the state licensing board and seek other employment (Correct answer)
- Inform patients privately that they should seek care elsewhere without formally escalating the concern
Correct answer: Document the concern, communicate it to the practice owner, and if unresolved, report to the state licensing board and seek other employment
The APTA Code of Ethics obligates therapists to provide safe and effective care regardless of employer pressure. When an employment policy conflicts with patient safety, the therapist must first attempt to resolve it through proper channels within the organization, then escalate to regulatory authorities if necessary. Silent resignation or informal patient redirection are insufficient ethical responses.
Question 4: A physical therapist maintains a social media profile and occasionally posts about interesting clinical cases to engage with professional peers. Which practice BEST aligns with HIPAA and the APTA Code of Ethics?
- Share de-identified case details only if the post is visible solely to confirmed healthcare professional followers
- Never reference any clinical case in any form on social media, even in a purely educational context
- Obtain explicit written patient authorization before sharing any case detail, even if fully de-identified, to ensure complete ethical compliance
- Share only de-identified information that could not reasonably be used to re-identify the patient, and avoid details that might identify the patient even indirectly (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Share only de-identified information that could not reasonably be used to re-identify the patient, and avoid details that might identify the patient even indirectly
HIPAA permits sharing de-identified health information, but de-identification must be thorough — removing not just names but any details that could reasonably allow re-identification (rare diagnoses, unusual circumstances, small geographic areas). Restricting visibility to professional followers does not satisfy HIPAA, and blanket prohibition on educational case discussion is not required. Robust de-identification is the operative standard.
Question 5: A physical therapist suspects that a patient is experiencing domestic abuse based on unexplained bruising and inconsistent explanations. The patient explicitly asks the therapist not to report anything. What is the MOST appropriate action?
- Honor the patient's autonomy by keeping the information confidential, since the patient is a competent adult who has the right to make their own decisions
- Immediately call law enforcement without informing the patient, to ensure their safety above all else
- Assess mandatory reporting obligations under applicable state law, provide the patient with safety resources, and report if legally required regardless of patient preference (Correct answer)
- Document the observation in the chart only and take no further action unless the patient explicitly asks for help
Correct answer: Assess mandatory reporting obligations under applicable state law, provide the patient with safety resources, and report if legally required regardless of patient preference
Physical therapists must be aware of their state's mandatory reporting laws, which may require reporting suspected abuse even when the patient objects. Beyond legal compliance, the APTA Code of Ethics requires promoting patient safety and well-being. The therapist should provide resources and support while fulfilling any mandatory reporting duty — patient autonomy does not override mandatory legal reporting obligations.
Question 6: A physical therapist working in a hospital setting is approached by a pharmaceutical company representative who offers a fee to speak at a company-sponsored dinner promoting a specific pain medication. The therapist has no prescriptive authority. What does the APTA Code of Ethics require before accepting this arrangement?
- Decline automatically, because physical therapists are prohibited from any involvement with pharmaceutical marketing activities
- Accept freely, since the therapist cannot prescribe medication and therefore has no conflict of interest
- Disclose the financial relationship to any audience and ensure that any content presented is accurate, evidence-based, and not misleading (Correct answer)
- Obtain approval from the state licensing board before participating in any speaker program
Correct answer: Disclose the financial relationship to any audience and ensure that any content presented is accurate, evidence-based, and not misleading
The APTA Code of Ethics does not categorically prohibit commercial relationships, but it requires full disclosure of financial arrangements and mandates that any professional presentation remain truthful, evidence-based, and not designed to mislead. Accepting undisclosed speaking fees from industry without transparency creates an ethical conflict of interest, even when the therapist lacks prescriptive authority.
NPTE-PT Test Test Professional Responsibilities and Ethics 1
A physical therapist receives a gift worth $150 from a grateful patient at the conclusion of a successful course of treatment.
According to the APTA Code of Ethics, what is the MOST appropriate response?