Safety, Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real CMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Safety, Ethics & Professional Standards flashcards as text
A CMT is treating a client who mentions they are involved in a personal injury lawsuit related to the condition being treated. The therapist should:
Answer: Maintain thorough, objective documentation and avoid expressing legal opinions
Accurate, objective documentation is critical when litigation is involved; the therapist must avoid bias and never alter records.
Which of the following best describes 'vicarious trauma' as it relates to CMT professional standards?
Answer: Secondary traumatic stress a therapist may develop from exposure to clients' trauma
Vicarious trauma is the cumulative emotional impact of bearing witness to clients' suffering, which can affect a therapist's well-being and practice quality.
Under which condition may a CMT legally treat a minor without parental consent?
Answer: In an emergency where delay in treatment would risk serious harm
Emergency exception allows treatment of a minor without parental consent when immediate care is necessary to prevent serious harm.
What is the primary purpose of a professional code of ethics for manual therapists?
Answer: To provide a framework for professional conduct that protects clients and the profession
A professional code of ethics establishes standards of conduct that safeguard clients, elevate professional credibility, and guide decision-making.
A therapist realizes mid-session that a technique they are about to apply is at the edge of their competency. The ethical action is to:
Answer: Stop, inform the client, and refer to a more experienced practitioner
Practicing at the edge of one's competency without supervision or referral violates the principle of beneficence and professional standards.
Which of the following is the correct response when a client gives verbal consent but refuses to sign a written consent form?
Answer: Document the refusal to sign and evaluate whether to proceed based on clinical and legal guidance
Documenting a refusal to sign protects the therapist and allows an informed decision about whether to proceed consistent with state law and clinic policy.
A newly licensed CMT is offered a significant financial incentive to refer clients exclusively to one diagnostic imaging center. Accepting this arrangement would violate which ethical principle?
Answer: Avoiding conflicts of interest / fidelity
Exclusive referral arrangements with financial incentives create conflicts of interest that compromise the therapist's duty to act in the client's best interest.