NPTE-PT Professional Responsibilities and Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PT is asked by a patient to sign a document stating treatment was provided on a date when the patient was not seen. The PT should:
- Sign if the patient insists and it avoids conflict
- Refuse and explain that falsifying records is fraud (Correct answer)
- Amend the existing records to reflect the requested date
- Consult with the billing department first
Correct answer: Refuse and explain that falsifying records is fraud
Falsifying medical records constitutes fraud and a violation of professional ethics; the PT must refuse regardless of pressure.
Question 2: The APTA Code of Ethics principle of 'compassion and caring' is MOST closely aligned with which ethical principle?
- Justice
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
- Veracity
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence — acting in the patient's best interest — aligns most closely with compassion and caring as described in the APTA Code of Ethics.
Question 3: A PT in private practice receives a referral bonus from a specialist for each patient sent for imaging. This MOST likely violates:
- The PT Practice Act only
- The Stark Law and anti-kickback statutes (Correct answer)
- HIPAA privacy regulations
- Medicare documentation requirements only
Correct answer: The Stark Law and anti-kickback statutes
Receiving financial incentives for referrals violates the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and potentially Stark Law, which prohibit such arrangements.
Question 4: Which of the following BEST represents an example of a dual relationship that a PT should avoid?
- Treating a patient referred by a colleague
- Providing PT services to a close friend or family member as a primary therapist (Correct answer)
- Consulting with a physician about a patient's progress
- Treating patients of different insurance types
Correct answer: Providing PT services to a close friend or family member as a primary therapist
Dual relationships — such as treating close friends or family — compromise professional objectivity and create ethical conflicts of interest.
Question 5: When a PT disagrees with a physician's order that appears clinically inappropriate, the BEST course of action is to:
- Follow the order without question to avoid conflict
- Refuse the order and document the refusal
- Contact the physician to discuss clinical concerns before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Immediately report the physician to the licensing board
Correct answer: Contact the physician to discuss clinical concerns before proceeding
Professional responsibility requires the PT to communicate concerns directly with the physician before taking further action, respecting collaborative care.
Question 6: Under the APTA Standards of Practice, supervision of a PTA by a PT requires that the PT:
- Be physically present in the same room at all times
- Be available for consultation and conduct regular supervision per state law (Correct answer)
- Cosign every treatment note written by the PTA
- Review and revise the PTA's plan of care independently
Correct answer: Be available for consultation and conduct regular supervision per state law
PT supervision of PTAs requires availability for consultation and regular supervisory contact, with specific requirements varying by state law.
Question 7: A patient requests that their PT not document a specific treatment technique in the record. The PT should:
- Honor the request to maintain therapeutic rapport
- Omit the documentation to avoid upsetting the patient
- Explain that accurate documentation is required and cannot be omitted (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient to sign a waiver before omitting the entry
Correct answer: Explain that accurate documentation is required and cannot be omitted
Complete and accurate documentation is both a legal requirement and an ethical obligation; omitting clinical information at a patient's request is not permissible.
NPTE-PT Professional Responsibilities and Ethics 3
A PT is asked by a patient to sign a document stating treatment was provided on a date when the patient was not seen.
The PT should: