Professional Responsibilities and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real NPTE-PT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Responsibilities and Ethics flashcards as text
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:
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.
The APTA Code of Ethics principle of 'compassion and caring' is MOST closely aligned with which ethical principle?
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.
A PT in private practice receives a referral bonus from a specialist for each patient sent for imaging. This MOST likely violates:
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.
Which of the following BEST represents an example of a dual relationship that a PT should avoid?
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.
When a PT disagrees with a physician's order that appears clinically inappropriate, the BEST course of action is to:
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.
Under the APTA Standards of Practice, supervision of a PTA by a PT requires that the PT:
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.
A patient requests that their PT not document a specific treatment technique in the record. The PT should:
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.