NPTE-PT Professional Responsibilities and Ethics 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PT notices signs of elder abuse in a patient receiving home health services. According to professional standards, the PT MUST:
- Discuss findings with the family before reporting
- Report suspicions to adult protective services as a mandatory reporter (Correct answer)
- Document observations and wait for the patient to disclose
- Consult the referring physician before any action
Correct answer: Report suspicions to adult protective services as a mandatory reporter
PTs are mandatory reporters of suspected elder abuse and must report to adult protective services regardless of family cooperation.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes 'clinical competence' as an ethical obligation for PTs?
- Passing the NPTE once and maintaining licensure
- Continuously updating knowledge and skills to provide current, evidence-based care (Correct answer)
- Treating only conditions covered by one's employer
- Limiting practice to conditions treated during internships
Correct answer: Continuously updating knowledge and skills to provide current, evidence-based care
Ethical competence requires ongoing professional development and lifelong learning to maintain current evidence-based practice.
Question 3: A PT treating a patient for low back pain discovers the patient is using opioids prescribed by another provider without disclosing this. The MOST appropriate action is to:
- Stop treatment immediately and report the patient
- Incorporate this information into the treatment plan and communicate with the prescribing provider (Correct answer)
- Ignore the information as it is outside the PT's scope
- Notify the patient's employer
Correct answer: Incorporate this information into the treatment plan and communicate with the prescribing provider
Knowledge of opioid use is clinically relevant and must be integrated into care planning with appropriate interprofessional communication.
Question 4: The ethical principle of 'justice' in physical therapy practice is BEST exemplified by:
- Providing the same treatment to every patient regardless of need
- Ensuring equitable access to services regardless of ability to pay or demographic factors (Correct answer)
- Charging the same fee for all services
- Treating all diagnoses with identical protocols
Correct answer: Ensuring equitable access to services regardless of ability to pay or demographic factors
Justice requires fair and equitable distribution of resources and services, ensuring access regardless of socioeconomic or demographic factors.
Question 5: A PT is approached by a pharmaceutical company offering compensation to use their product exclusively with patients. This arrangement MOST directly raises concerns about:
- Scope of practice violations
- Conflict of interest and undue industry influence (Correct answer)
- HIPAA violations
- Supervision requirements
Correct answer: Conflict of interest and undue industry influence
Financial arrangements with industry that influence clinical decisions create conflicts of interest that compromise patient-centered care.
Question 6: When providing care in a state where a PT is not licensed, the PT is:
- Permitted if the treatment is temporary emergency care only
- Potentially in violation of the state practice act and subject to disciplinary action (Correct answer)
- Covered under their home state license via reciprocity
- Permitted if supervised by a licensed provider in that state
Correct answer: Potentially in violation of the state practice act and subject to disciplinary action
Providing PT services without licensure in that state violates state practice acts, except for very specific emergency or compact-covered situations.
Question 7: A PT student observes their clinical instructor performing a technique that appears to cause unnecessary patient discomfort. The student's BEST action is to:
- Remain silent to avoid jeopardizing the clinical placement
- Immediately file a complaint with the state board
- Discuss observations with the clinical instructor or program coordinator (Correct answer)
- Refuse to participate in future similar treatments
Correct answer: Discuss observations with the clinical instructor or program coordinator
Students should address clinical concerns through appropriate professional channels, starting with the clinical instructor or academic program coordinator.
NPTE-PT Professional Responsibilities and Ethics 4
A PT notices signs of elder abuse in a patient receiving home health services.
According to professional standards, the PT MUST: