ethical issue patient does not want to report information to doctors occupaitonal therapy

by Giuseppe Hessel 5 min read

Ethical Dilemmas in Occupational Therapy - myotspot.com

8 hours ago The Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics was last updated and adopted by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA’s) Representative Assembly (RA) in 2020. As an official document, revisions to the Code are considered on a 5-year review cycle with public comment from members and key stakeholders considered as part of the review ... >> Go To The Portal


Do physicians have an obligation to report incompetent or unethical conduct?

The obligation to report incompetent or unethical conduct that may put patients at risk is recognized in both the ethical standards of the profession and in law and physicians should be able to report such conduct without fear or loss of favor. CME course: Physician wellness & professional conduct

What are some common ethical issues in occupational therapy?

In the article, the researchers state that common ethical issues include “ineffective treatment, unethical/incompetent colleagues, priorities in treatment, causing pain and discomfort, treating patients despite refusal, and misleading the patient and confidentiality.”. The researchers focused their article on how occupational therapists can ...

Are there any public ethics sanctions for Occupational Therapy?

Public ethics sanctions by the Ethics Commission or Appeal Panel are publicized as outlined in the Enforcement Procedures for the AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics. Do you know when your state license expires?

Is it ethical to force patients to participate in therapy?

It would, of course, be unethical to force anyone to participate when they keep saying “No.” Everyone has a right to refuse therapy. However, if the refusals are due to behavioral or cognitive issues, there may be ways to work with these patients and provide them the therapy they need.

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Is it ethical to withhold information from a patient?

Except in emergency situations in which a patient is incapable of making an informed decision, withholding information without the patient's knowledge or consent is ethically unacceptable.

What are the different types of ethical problems in occupational therapy?

In the article, the researchers state that common ethical issues include “ineffective treatment, unethical/incompetent colleagues, priorities in treatment, causing pain and discomfort, treating patients despite refusal, and misleading the patient and confidentiality.”

What are some legal and ethical issues related to disclosing or not disclosing medical errors?

Ethical issues related to medical errors can be categorized around four ethical principles: autonomy and right to self-determination; beneficence and nonmaleficence; disclosure and right to knowledge; and veracity (Bonney, 2014). Each of these principles will be discussed below.

Why do patients withhold information?

The most commonly reported reasons for not disclosing information included not wanting to be judged or hear how harmful their behavior is. Meaning Patients commonly withhold medically relevant information from their clinicians, a pattern that likely inhibits the quality of patient care.

Why Code of Ethics is important in occupational therapy?

The Code serves two purposes: It provides aspirational Core Values that guide occupational therapy personnel toward ethical courses of action in professional and volunteer roles. 2. It delineates ethical Principles and enforceable Standards of Conduct that apply to AOTA members.

Why is OT ethics important?

Breaking ethical codes has real consequences, and for this reason staying up to date with occupational therapy continuing education is critical. Ethical guidelines are important because having a set of regulations helps to keep a sense of integrity in the industry.

Do physicians have an ethical duty to disclose information about medical mistakes to their patients?

Do physicians have an ethical duty to disclose information about medical mistakes to their patients? Physicians have an obligation to be truthful with their patients. That duty includes situations in which a patient suffers serious consequences because of a physician's mistake or erroneous judgment.

Should patients be notified of medical errors?

Large physician organizations, such as the American Medical Association in their general Code of Medical Ethics,15 state that physicians need to inform patients about medical errors so that patients can understand the error and participate in informed decision making about subsequent management of their health care.

Should the patient be notified of the error?

Medical and Dental practitioners must always inform patients promptly of any significant errors that may be occurred in the course of investigation or treatment”. The American Medical Association Principles of Medical Ethics states, “A doctor shall …be honest in all professional interactions”.

What would you do if your patient chooses not to disclose important information?

Responding to Requests for Non-Disclosure of Medical InformationStay Calm. ... Try to understand the family's viewpoint. ... Clarify what the patient already knows. ... Respond empathically. ... State your views openly, but as your own views. ... Be willing to brainstorm possible solutions. ... Negotiate a solution.

Can a patient withhold information from a doctor?

“The therapeutic privilege permits physicians to tailor (and even withhold) information when, but only when, its disclosure would so upset a patient that he or she could not rationally engage in a conversation about therapeutic options and consequences”.

What is intentionally withholding information?

When we deliberately withhold or conceal information from each other, we are doing something called “knowledge hiding,” an action that can take several different forms.

How to file an ethics complaint

Read instructions for filing an ethics complaint, including completion of a complaint form and submission of supporting documentation.

Enforcement procedures for the AOTA OT code of ethics

This public document articulates the procedures followed by members of the Ethics Commission as they carry out duties to enforce the Code. These Enforcement Procedures help ensure compliance with the Code, objectivity, and fundamental fairness to all persons who may be parties in an ethics complaint.

Ethics Commission disciplinary action

Public ethics sanctions by the Ethics Commission or Appeal Panel are publicized as outlined in the Enforcement Procedures for the AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics.

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University

The Ethics Center's goal is to heighten ethical awareness and improve ethical decision making. Topics cover student issues, character development, diversity, hospice, and other clinical issues.

Why report a colleague who is incompetent?

Reporting a colleague who is incompetent or who engages in unethical behavior is intended not only to protect patients , but also to help ensure that colleagues receive appropriate assistance from a physician health program or other service to be able to practice safely and ethically.

Why is medicine a self-regulated profession?

Medicine has a long tradition of self-regulation, based on physicians’ enduring commitment to safeguard the welfare of patients and the trust of the public. The obligation to report incompetent or unethical conduct that may put patients at risk is recognized in both the ethical standards of the profession and in law and physicians should be able ...

So how do you manage this?

First, we have to find out why the person is refusing. Oftentimes it’s because they are legitimately sick, exhausted from multiple appointments before you, or they’re in pain and just not feeling rehab today.

So what to do in this predicament?

First off, remember what you learned in Ethics class. It would, of course, be unethical to force anyone to participate when they keep saying “No.”

When Everything Else Fails

After you, nursing, doctors, and other therapists have tried everything from checking symptoms, incorporating caregivers, educating the patient on the benefits of therapy until you’re blue in the face and nothing helps, it might be time to call it quits.

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